magpie
English · Thesaurus
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magpie¹
- /ˈmæɡˌpaɪ/
Where it comes from
From Mag, a nickname for Margaret that was used to denote a chatterer, + archaic pie (“magpie”).
Displaced native Old English agu (“magpie”) and Middle English aguster (“magpie”), whence English haggister.
noun magpies
-
One of several kinds of bird in the family Corvidae, especially Pica pica.
Similar: haggister, maggie, Eurasian magpie, European magpie, common magpie, pica, pie, piet
- A superficially similar Australian bird, Gymnorhina tibicen, in the family Artamidae.
- Someone who displays a magpie-like quality such as hoarding or stealing objects. Not only is Mr. Booker a voracious magpie (who does not always acknowledge the sources of his ideas), but he also turns out to be an annoyingly biased and didactic one.
- A fan or member of Newcastle United F.C.
- In the sport of fullbore target rifle, the third circle on a target, between the inner and outer.
- A halfpenny.
- A pattern resembling the pied plumage of a magpie. Kitty and I were engaged. The next day I met those accursed “magpie” Jhampanies at the back of Jakko, and, moved by some passing sentiment of pity, stopped to tell Mrs. Wessington everything.
verb magpies · magpieing · magpied
-
To mark with patches of black and white or light and dark.
The little rail-enclosed plots that lay between the pavements and the hotels were magpied with torn paper […]
Similar: mottle
- To steal or hoard (items) as magpies are believed to do. […] she liked to be able to have a picturesque fact or two with which to support herself when she too, to hold attention, wanted to issue moving statements as to revolutions, anarchies and strife in the offing. And she had noticed that when she magpied Tietjens’ conversations more serious men in res
- To talk idly; to talk about other people's private business. He knew how people were magpieing with their malicious chatter that she had committed the cardinal sin of believing love was permanent […]
Magpie²
noun Magpies
- Someone connected with Newcastle United Football Club, as a fan, player, coach, etc.
- Someone connected with Notts County Football Club, as a fan, player, coach, etc.
- Someone connected with Collingwood Football Club, as a fan, player, coach, etc.
- Someone connected with the Western Suburbs Magpies, as a fan, player, coach, etc.
- A town in the City of Ballarat, central western Victoria, Australia.
Translations
Every language
noun bird of genus Pica
| Español | urraca, picaza |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 까치 kkachi |
| 日本語 | 鵲 |
| 中文 | 喜鵲 /喜鹊 xǐque |
| हिन्दी | अधेला adhelā |
| Português | gralha, pega |
| Français | pie |
| Deutsch | Elster |
| Italiano | gazza |
| Ελληνικά | καρακάξα karakáxa |
| Română | coțofană |
| Русский | соро́ка soróka |
| Tiếng Việt | chim ác là |
| العربية | عَقْعَق ʕaqʕaq |
| עברית | עַקְעָק |
noun Australian bird, Gymnorhina tibicen
| 日本語 | カササギフエガラス kasasagifuegarasu |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 黑背鍾鵲 /黑背钟鹊 hēi bèi zhōng què |
| Français | cassican flûteur |
Talk about this word "magpie." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/magpie. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. magpie. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/magpie "magpie." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/magpie.Cite this
@misc{magpie_2026,
title = {magpie},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/magpie},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
