zebra parakeet, n.

zebra-parakeet
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zebra-parakeet_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zebra parakeetnoun

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zebra parakeet mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zebra parakeet. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### Where does the noun zebra parakeet come from?

Earliest known use

1850s

The earliest known use of the noun zebra parakeet is in the 1850s.

OED's earliest evidence for zebra parakeet is from 1856, in Era.

### Nearby entries

1. zebraed, adj. 1806–
2. zebra finch, n. 1868–
3. zebrafish, n. 1771–
4. zebraic, adj. 1858–
5. zebra marking, n. 1854–
6. zebra moray, n. 1933–
7. zebra mule, n. 1841–
8. zebra mussel, n. 1866–
9. zebrano, n. 1908–
10. zebra opossum, n. 1808–
11. zebra parakeet, n.1856–
12. zebra plant, n. 1826–
13. zebra poison, n. 1871–74
14. zebra print, n. & adj. 1932–
15. zebra rhomb, n. 1770–1844
16. zebra rock, n. 1895–
17. zebra rush, n. 1882–
18. zebra shark, n. 1804–
19. zebra skin, n. 1774–
20. zebra spider, n. 1806–
21. zebra suit, n. 1853–

## Meaning & use

Now rare.

1. 1856–
   The budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus.
   1. 1856

      > In the colony of Australia they are known by the names of Burderique, Grass Parakeet, Shell Parrott, or the Zebra Parakeet.

      Era 17 August 12/1
   2. 1864

      > Others..now so popular in London as Zebra parakeets.

      Macmillan's Magazine October 448/1
   3. 1988

      > Budgerigar, the zebra parakeet of Australia.

      New Amer. Writing Spring 87
   birds
   1. ring parakeet 1678–1855
      Any of several chiefly green parakeets of the genus Psittacula having a ring around the neck, esp. the Alexandrine parakeet, P. eupatria; cf. ring…
   2. Quaker 1776–
      With allusion to the plainness of the dress traditionally worn by Quakers. Any of various birds with partly or wholly grey or brown plumage; spec.…
   3. Alexandrine parakeet 1781–
      A large, long-tailed Asian parakeet, Psittacula eupatria (or P. alexandri), with predominantly green plumage and a red bill, which is said to…
   4. grass parakeet 1840–
      = grass parrot, n.
   5. zebra parakeet 1856–
      The budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for zebra, n.

zebra, n. was revised in June 2018.