An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Papagei

by Friedrich Kluge

Papagei, w., from the equiv. MidHG. papagey, most frequently papegân, m., ‘parrot’; corresponding to Du. papagaai, E. popinjay (MidE. pǫ̂pejai); borrowed from the equiv. Rom. cognates, espec. from OFr. papegai (Ital. pappagallo). The origin of these words is not yet determined; they are most probably derived from Arab. babaghâ.