MAGPIE • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Magpie

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/mˈægpˌaɪ/ Listen

noun

Magpie n. (Zool.)

1.

Any one of numerous species of the genus Pica and related genera, allied to the jays, but having a long graduated tail.

2.

Any one of several black-and-white birds, such as Gymnorhina tibicen, not belonging to the genus Pica. Note: The common European magpie (Pica pica, or Pica caudata) is a black and white noisy and mischievous bird. It can be taught to speak. The American magpie (Pica Hudsonica) is very similar. The yellow-belled magpie (Pica Nuttalli) inhabits California. The blue magpie (Cyanopolius Cooki) inhabits Spain. Other allied species are found in Asia. The Tasmanian and Australian magpies are crow shrikes, as the white magpie (Gymnorhina organicum), the black magpie (Strepera fuliginosa), and the Australian magpie (Cracticus picatus).

3.

A talkative person; a chatterbox.

Magpie lark (Zool.), a common Australian bird (Grallina picata), conspicuously marked with black and white; called also little magpie.

Magpie moth (Zool.), a black and white European geometrid moth (Abraxas grossulariata); the harlequin moth. Its larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes.

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Etymology of 'Magpie'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Magpie" Quotes from Famous Books

... travels in Italy and Greece; and in the latter half of his life we follow him to the southern part of England, to Surrey and the Isle of Wight, where we find him in his "careless-ordered garden, close to the edge of a noble down," or "hear the magpie gossip garrulous under a roof of pine." But, to quote the lines that illustrate this autobiographic element in Tennyson's poetry, or that show his happy way of making use of his actual experiences, by which again we are ...

— Great Men and Famous Women, Vol. 7 of 8 • Charles F. (Charles Francis) Horne

... learnt the tricks and cunning of a harlot, naturally frank and truthful, with some liking for me (for she looked forward to our voluptuous dallyings), she gave me for a long time much amusement, and I heard the incidents of her short life. She would jabber like a magpie about them when she knew me well, which she soon did, and began to look to me regularly for her supply ...

— My Secret Life, Volumes I. to III. - 1888 Edition • Anonymous

... four by the village clock, The dew is heavy, the air is cool— A mist goes up from the glassy pool, Through the dim field ranges a phantom flock: No sound is heard but the magpie's mock. ...

— A Celtic Psaltery • Alfred Perceval Graves

... Alora's disappearance, but they took Josie in to dinner, realizing it would be impossible to get her to talk seriously or to listen to them until she was quite ready to do so. And during the meal Josie chattered away like a magpie on all sorts of subjects except that which weighed most heavily on their minds, and the little thing was so bright and entertaining that they were encouraged to dine more heartily than ...

— Mary Louise Solves a Mystery • L. Frank Baum

... her own room, Mary Virginia dismissed Nancy for the night. She had to be alone, and the colored woman was an irrepressible magpie. Furiously she scrubbed her hands, as if to remove the taint of his touch. That he had dared! Her teeth chattered. She could barely save herself from screaming aloud. She bathed her face, dashed some toilet water over herself, and fell into a chair, ...

— Slippy McGee, Sometimes Known as the Butterfly Man • Marie Conway Oemler

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