gaai

Dutch

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɣaːi̯/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: gaai
  • Rhymes: -aːi̯

Etymology 1

Garrulus glandarius

From Old French gai, from Late Latin gaius (jay). Further etymology uncertain, though plausibly echoic, and supposedly influenced by the Roman common given name Gaius.

Noun

gaai m (plural gaaien, diminutive gaaitje n)

  1. The jaybird, Garrulus glandarius, a woodland corvine species
    Synonym: Vlaamse gaai

Further reading

Etymology 2

A parallel form of papagaai (parrot), by popular etymology confused with etymology 1, but actually from Middle Dutch papagoie, papegoie, from Arabic بَبَّغَاء (babbaḡāʔ) and Persian بپغا (bapğâ), of uncertain origin.

Noun

gaai m (plural gaaien, diminutive gaaitje n)

  1. A wooden, somewhat bird-shaped target, often ornamented with bright plumes, used in archery competitions
  2. The high wooden stake or tower the above is mounted on
Synonyms
  • (wooden base) wip, schutsboom m
Derived terms
  • gaaischieten (verb)
  • gaaischieter m
  • gaaischieting

Etymology 3

A parallel form of gade (spouse).

Noun

gaai f (plural gaaien, diminutive gaaitje n or gaaike n)

  1. (uncommon) A female spouse, notably (and mostly used in the diminutive):
    1. a female bird
    2. a female fish
    3. (humorous) a human mistress or wife
Synonyms
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.