Magpie moth

Magpie moth
Magpie Mag"pie, n. [OE. & Prov. E. magot pie, maggoty pie, fr. Mag, Maggot, equiv. to Margaret, and fr. F. Marquerite, and common name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. margarita pearl, Gr. ?, prob. of Eastern origin. See {Pie} magpie, and cf. the analogous names {Tomtit}, and {Jackdaw}.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of the genus {Pica} and related genera, allied to the jays, but having a long graduated tail. [1913 Webster]

2. Any one of several black-and-white birds, such as {Gymnorhina tibicen}, not belonging to the genus {Pica}. [PJC]

Note: The common European magpie ({Pica pica}, or {Pica caudata}) is a black and white noisy and mischievous bird. It can be taught to speak. The American magpie ({Pica Hudsonica}) is very similar. The yellow-belled magpie ({Pica Nuttalli}) inhabits California. The blue magpie ({Cyanopolius Cooki}) inhabits Spain. Other allied species are found in Asia. The Tasmanian and Australian magpies are crow shrikes, as the white magpie ({Gymnorhina organicum}), the black magpie ({Strepera fuliginosa}), and the Australian magpie ({Cracticus picatus}). [1913 Webster]

3. A talkative person; a chatterbox. [PJC]

{Magpie lark} (Zo["o]l.), a common Australian bird ({Grallina picata}), conspicuously marked with black and white; -- called also {little magpie}.

{Magpie moth} (Zo["o]l.), a black and white European geometrid moth ({Abraxas grossulariata}); the harlequin moth. Its larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • magpie moth — noun : either of two black and white moths: a. : a European geometrid moth (Abraxas grossulariata) whose larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes b. : any of several Australian and New Zealand moths of the genus Nyctemera having hairy larvae… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Magpie moth — The term magpie moth may refer to: Nyctemera species (Arctiidae) in Australasia Eurrhypara hortulata (Pyralidae) in North America; Abraxas grossulariata (Geometridae) in North America and Europe. This disambiguation page lists articles associated …   Wikipedia

  • magpie moth — noun a white moth with black and yellow spots whose caterpillars can be pests of fruit bushes. [Abraxas grossulariata and related species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • Magpie — Mag pie, n. [OE. & Prov. E. magot pie, maggoty pie, fr. Mag, Maggot, equiv. to Margaret, and fr. F. Marquerite, and common name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. margarita pearl, Gr. ?, prob. of Eastern origin. See {Pie} magpie, and cf. the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Magpie lark — Magpie Mag pie, n. [OE. & Prov. E. magot pie, maggoty pie, fr. Mag, Maggot, equiv. to Margaret, and fr. F. Marquerite, and common name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. margarita pearl, Gr. ?, prob. of Eastern origin. See {Pie} magpie, and cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Magpie (disambiguation) — Contents 1 Birds 2 Fish 3 Moths 4 Places …   Wikipedia

  • little magpie — Magpie Mag pie, n. [OE. & Prov. E. magot pie, maggoty pie, fr. Mag, Maggot, equiv. to Margaret, and fr. F. Marquerite, and common name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. margarita pearl, Gr. ?, prob. of Eastern origin. See {Pie} magpie, and cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Harlequin moth — Harlequin Har le*quin (h[aum]r l[ e]*k[i^]n or kw[i^]n), n. [F. arlequin, formerly written also harlequin (cf. It, arlecchino), prob. fr. OF. hierlekin, hellequin, goblin, elf, which is prob. of German or Dutch origin; cf. D. hel hell. Cf. {Hell} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • geometrid moth — ▪ insect       any member of a group of moths (order Lepidoptera) that includes the species commonly known as pug, wave, emerald, and carpet moths. The larvae of geometrid moths are called by a variety of common names, including inchworm,… …   Universalium

  • Abraxas (moth) — Abraxas Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta …   Wikipedia

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