Parroquets

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small to medium-sized brightly colored tropical birds with curved beaks and zygodactyl feet known for mimicking sounds and speech ; birds commonly kept as exotic pets with vivid plumage and a talent for vocal imitation ; vibrant-winged creatures native to warm climates that are celebrated for their ability to replicate human voices and natural sounds
2. Tropical avian species recognized for their brilliant feathers and capacity to imitate noises ; pet birds often characterized by their colorful appearance and skillful speech mimicry ; creatures inhabiting forests in warm regions with hooked beaks and adept at copying sounds including human speech
3. Brightly feathered birds found in humid regions, noted for their curved bills and ability to replicate verbal sounds ; creatures popular in aviculture prized for their vivid colors and vocal mimicry ; tropical birds with strong, hooked jaws and a versatile voice used to echo both natural and artificial sounds

Etymology: "Parroquets" is simply the plural of "parroquet," so the story belongs to the singular. The word came into English from French "perroquet," a diminutive-style form of "Perrot" or "Pierrot," the familiar pet name for Pierre (Peter). French speakers gave the same kind of nickname to a number of birds, and "perroquet" became the name for these long-tailed, brightly coloured parrots. English took the word from French and later adapted its spelling, producing "parroquet" alongside the more common "parakeet." The name "parrot" itself has a similar history, coming from the same French nickname, which means that a common everyday word for these birds carries a man's first name inside it. The plural form follows the regular English pattern of adding "s" to the end of the noun, so "parroquets" simply refers to more than one of these birds.

Synonyms: parrots, parakeets, macaws, cockatoos, lovebirds