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Dictionary Language resources

magpie

Syllabification: (mag·pie)

Pronunciation: /ˈmagˌpī/

Translate magpie | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

Definition of magpie

noun

1a long-tailed crow with boldly marked (or green) plumage and a raucous voice.
- Family Corvidae: five genera and several species, in particular the black-and-white black-billed magpie (Pica pica) of Eurasia and North America

2used in similes or comparisons to refer to a person who collects things, especially things of little use or value, or a person who chatters idly.

Origin:

late 16th century: probably shortening of dialect maggot the pie, maggoty-pie, from Magot (Middle English nickname for the given name Marguerite) + pie²