popinjays

Noun

popinjay (plural popinjays)

1. (now archaic outside heraldry) A parrot.
   • [I]nnumerable popingayes of ſundry kindes are found chattering in the groues of thoſe fenny places.1555, Peter Martyr of Angleria [i.e., Peter Martyr d’Anghiera], “The Nynth Booke of the Seconde Decade, of the Supposed Continent”, in Rycharde Eden [i.e., Richard Eden], transl., The Decades of the...
2. (obsolete) A decorative image of a parrot on a tapestry, cloth etc.
3. (dated) A vain, gaudy person; someone who is shallow or superficial.
   • The very quintessence of popinjay vulgarity is reached when nicely is made to do service for well, in this wise: "How do you do?" "Nicely." "How are you?" "Nicely."1881, Alfred Ayres [pseudonym; Thomas Embly Osmun], “Nicely”, in The Verbalist

   Synonyms:

   fop, macaroni, peacock, barbermonger, beau, blade, blood, buck, carpet knight, cockscomb

4. A target to shoot at, typically stuffed with feathers or plumage.
5. (UK) The green woodpecker, Picus viridis.