gaai
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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)
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 (bapğâ), of uncertain origin.
gaai m (plural gaaien, diminutive gaaitje n)
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)