An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Papagei

by Friedrich Kluge

Papagei, w., from the equivalent Middle High German papagey, most frequently papegân, masculine, ‘parrot’; corresponding to Dutch papagaai, English popinjay (Middle English pǫ̂pejai); borrowed from the equivalent Romance cognates, especially from Old French papegai (Italian pappagallo). The origin of these words is not yet determined; they are most probably derived from Arabic babaghâ.