from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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}.] (Zool.)
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} (Zool.), a common Australian bird ({Grallina
picata}), conspicuously marked with black and white; --
called also {little magpie}.
{Magpie moth} (Zool.), a black and white European geometrid
moth ({Abraxas grossulariata}); the harlequin moth. Its
larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes.
[1913 Webster]