magpie
UK[ˈmaɡpaɪ]US[ˈmæɡˌpaɪ]
n
a black-and-white bird with a long tail and a noisy, chattering call
n
a person who collects or hoards things, especially items of little value
n
a person who chatters incessantly
Etymology
The word 'magpie' is a fascinating example of a folk etymology compound. It originated in the 16th century from the simple name 'Mag' (a common nickname for 'Margaret') combined with 'pie', an earlier English term for the bird, borrowed from Old French. The Old French 'pie' itself comes from Latin 'pica', meaning the same bird. The association with the name 'Mag' likely arose from the bird's perceived chattiness and familiarity, personifying it with a common woman's name. Thus, the modern word represents not a classical morpheme combination but a colloquial naming that stuck, linking the bird's characteristics to human behavior.
Analysis
The word is a loanword where the original morphemes are not transparently segmentable in modern English spelling. It derives from the name "Mag" (a diminutive of "Margaret") + "pie" (an obsolete term for the bird).
Examples
A magpie was building a nest in the tall oak tree.
He's a real magpie when it comes to collecting vintage bottle caps.
She chattered away like a magpie, full of news and gossip.