gaai

• IPA^(key): /ˈɣaːi̯/

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• Hyphenation: gaai
• Rhymes: -aːi̯

From Old French gai, from Late Latin gaius (“jay”). Further etymology uncertain, though plausibly echoic, and supposedly influenced by the Roman common given name Gaius.

gaai m (plural gaaien, diminutive gaaitje n)

1. jaybird (Garrulus glandarius), a woodland corvine species

   Synonym: Vlaamse gaai

• (obsolete) gaey, gaei

A parallel form of papagaai (“parrot”), by popular etymology confused with etymology 1, but actually from Middle Dutch papagoie, papegoie, from Arabic بَبَّغَاء (babbaḡāʔ) and Persian بپغا (bapġâ), of uncertain origin.

gaai m (plural gaaien, diminutive gaaitje n)

1. a wooden, somewhat bird-shaped target, often ornamented with bright plumes, used in archery competitions
2. the high wooden stake or tower the above is mounted on

• (wooden base) wip, schutsboom m

A by-form of gade (“spouse”) with syncope of intervocalic -d-, for which compare vlade / vlaai, leder / leer, and so forth.

gaai f (plural gaaien, diminutive gaaitje n or gaaike n)

1. (uncommon) a female spouse, notably (and mostly used in the diminutive):
   1. a female bird
   2. a female fish
   3. (humorous) a human mistress or wife

• (animals) wijfje n