Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Parrot?

\Par"rot\, n. [Prob. fr. F. Pierrot, dim. of Pierre Peter. F. pierrot is also the name of the sparrow. Cf. {Paroquet}, {Petrel}, {Petrify}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) In a general sense, any bird of the order {Psittaci}. 2. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of {Psittacus}, {Chrysotis}, {Pionus}, and other genera of the family {Psittacid[ae]}, as distinguished from the parrakeets, macaws, and lories. They have a short rounded or even tail, and often a naked space on the cheeks. The gray parrot, or jako ({P. erithacus}) of Africa (see {Jako}), and the species of Amazon, or green, parrots ({Chrysotis}) of America, are examples. Many species, as cage birds, readily learn to imitate sounds, and to repeat words and phrases. {Carolina parrot} (Zo["o]l.), the Carolina parrakeet. See {Parrakeet}. {Night parrot}, or {Owl parrot}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Kakapo}. {Parrot coal}, cannel coal; -- so called from the crackling and chattering sound it makes in burning. [Eng. & Scot.] {Parrot green}. (Chem.) See {Scheele's green}, under {Green}, n. {Parrot weed} (Bot.), a suffrutescent plant ({Bocconia frutescens}) of the Poppy family, native of the warmer parts of America. It has very large, sinuate, pinnatifid leaves, and small, panicled, apetalous flowers. {Parrot wrasse}, {Parrot fish} (Zo["o]l.), any fish of the genus {Scarus}. One species ({S. Cretensis}), found in the Mediterranean, is esteemed by epicures, and was highly prized by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
\Par"rot\, v. t. To repeat by rote, as a parrot.
\Par"rot\, v. i. To chatter like a parrot.