parakeet

English

A rose-ringed parakeet

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle French perroquet, probably a diminutive form of the personal name Pierre; some variant forms perhaps via Italian parrocchetto, Spanish periquito.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpaɹəkiːt/, /paɹəˈkiːt/

Noun

parakeet (plural parakeets)

  1. A member of any of the various species of small parrots usually bred in Australia and Africa. [from 16th c.]
    • 1603, John Florio, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, […], printed at London: […] Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:
      , II.8:
      we had loved them for our pastimes, as we do apes, monkies, or perokitoes, and not as man.
    • 2009, Patrick Barkham, The Guardian, 12 Oct 2009:
      According to one legend, the parakeets escaped from the set of The African Queen, John Huston's 1951 film made at Shepperton studios.

Usage notes

The common parakeet kept as a pet is called the budgie or budgerigar in Commonwealth nations.

Translations

See also

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