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Definition of parakeet - 4 dictionary results

par⋅a⋅keet

[par-uh-keet]
–noun
any of numerous small, slender parrots, usually having a long, pointed, graduated tail, often kept as pets and noted for the ability to mimic speech: several species are endangered.
Also, paraquet, paroquet, parrakeet, parroket, parroquet.


Origin:
1575–85; < MF paroquet parrot, appar. orig. a dim. of P(i)errot, dim. of Pierre Peter, as a name for a parrot; the modern form and its earlier vars. have been influenced by It parrocchetto and Sp periquito (both ult. < MF)
par·a·keet   (pār'ə-kēt')   
n.  Any of various small slender parrots, usually having long tapering tails and often kept as pets.

[Spanish periquito, probably diminutive of Perico, diminutive of Pedro, Peter.]

Parakeet

Par"a*keet`\, n. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Parrakeet.

parakeet 
1621, from Sp. perquito; earlier Eng. form parroket (1581) is from M.Fr. paroquet, from O.Fr. paroquet (14c.), which is said by etymologists of Fr. to be from It. parrocchetto, lit. "little priest," from parroco "parish priest," from Church L. parochus (see parish), or parrucchetto, dim. of parrucca "peruke, periwig," in ref. to the head plumage. The Sp. form, meanwhile, is sometimes said to be a dim. of Perico, familiar form of Pedro "Peter," and the O.Fr. word is likewise perhaps from or infl. by a dim. of Pierre "Peter." The relations of the Sp. and It. forms, and the influence of folk etymology on either or both, are uncertain.
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