Paroquet
/ˈpærəˌkɛt/noun
A parakeet, especially in older or variant English usage.
Did you know?Paroquet is an older spelling of parakeet, while the deeper origin of French perroquet and Spanish periquito remains uncertain rather than securely tied to a single mystical or zoological source.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
Spanish
periquito
“A diminutive form associated with perico, meaning “parrot”; the ultimate origin is uncertain.”
16th Century
French
perroquet
“A parrot or small parrot-like bird; probably borrowed through Spanish.”
16th Century
English
paroquet
“A parrot or parakeet, adopted from French and recorded in variant spellings.”
17th–18th Century
English
paroquet
“An established but increasingly archaic spelling for a small parrot or parakeet.”
Modern English
English
paroquet
“A rare or historical variant of parakeet.”