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mynah

 - 3 dictionary results

my⋅na

[mahy-nuh]
–noun
any of several Asian birds of the starling family Sturnidae, esp. those of the genera Acridotheres and Gracula, certain species of which have the ability to mimic speech and are kept as pets.
Also, mynah, mina, minah.


Origin:
1760–70; < Hindi mainā
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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my·na or my·nah also mi·na   (mī'nə)   
n.  Any of various starlings of southeast Asia, having bluish-black or dark brown coloration and yellow bills. Certain species, especially the hill myna (Gracula religiosa), are known for mimicry of human speech.

[Hindi mainā, perhaps from Sanskrit madanaḥ, from madana-, delightful, joyful, from madati, it bubbles.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

mynah 
type of passerine bird of India and the East, "talking starling," 1769, from Hindi maina "a starling," from Skt. madana-s "love, passion," with a special sense of "bird."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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