pettychaps
Any of several species of small European passerine songbirds, including the willow…Any of several species of small European passerine songbirds, including the willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), the chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus spp.), and the western Orphean warbler (Sylvia hortensis).
Meaning
1 sensesAny of several species of small European passerine songbirds, including the willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), the chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus spp.), and the western Orphean warbler (Sylvia hortensis).
Origin
Uncertain. Probably imitative of the bird’s call, with influence from petty (“small”) andUncertain. Probably imitative of the bird’s call, with influence from petty (“small”) and either chap (“jaw; bill of a bird”) or chap (“person”). Alternatively, perhaps directly from petty (in turn from Middle English pety (“tiny”)) and chaps (“jaws”). Attested from the 1670s.
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Forms
plural: pettychaps| Singular | pettychaps |
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| Plural | pettychaps |
irregular