Perroquet
/ˈpɛr.ə.keɪ/noun
An obsolete English word for a parrot, borrowed from French.
Did you know?The ultimate origin is disputed, but one leading theory connects perroquet to Spanish perico, a familiar form of Pedro—Peter.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Petros
“A rock or stone; the source of the personal name Peter.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Petrus
“Peter, the Latin form of the Greek personal name.”
Medieval Spanish
Spanish
Perico
“A familiar form of Pedro, later used as a name for a parrot; this proposed connection is not completely certain.”
15th–16th Century
Spanish
Periquito
“A diminutive form associated with perico; a proposed source for French perroquet.”
16th Century
French
Perroquet
“Parrot; probably borrowed or reshaped from Spanish, with its precise formation disputed.”
16th–17th Century
English
Perroquet
“A parrot, recorded as an English borrowing from French.”
Modern English
English
Perroquet
“An obsolete or very rare term for a parrot.”