mynah
UK[ˈmaɪnə]US[ˈmaɪnə]
n
An Asian starling with dark plumage, a yellow bill, and often the ability to mimic human speech.
Etymology
The word 'mynah' entered the English language in the 18th century from the Hindi 'mainā', referring to the hill mynah bird. Its ultimate source is the Sanskrit 'madana', meaning 'delightful' or 'joyful', a fitting name for a bird often kept for its entertaining ability to mimic sounds. The spelling was anglicized to 'mynah' or 'myna', reflecting its pronunciation. The term specifically denotes certain species of starlings native to Asia, with the common hill mynah being particularly famous for its clear, imitative speech.
Analysis
The word 'mynah' is a simplex loanword. It originates from the Hindi word 'mainā', which itself is derived from the Sanskrit 'madana', meaning 'delightful' or 'joyful'.
Examples
The mynah bird in the cage startled everyone by perfectly imitating the telephone's ring.
We visited an aviary where a talented mynah greeted each visitor with a cheerful "hello".
In some cultures, the mynah is considered a symbol of good fortune and is kept as a cherished pet.