# magpie

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmæɡˌpaɪ/ · frequency rank #32,907

## Definitions
1. One of several kinds of bird in the family Corvidae, especially Pica pica.
2. A superficially similar Australian bird, Gymnorhina tibicen, in the family Artamidae.
3. Someone who displays a magpie-like quality such as hoarding or stealing objects.
4. A fan or member of Newcastle United F.C.
5. The third circle on a target, between the inner and outer.
6. A halfpenny.
7. A pattern resembling the pied plumage of a magpie.

## Etymology
From Mag, a nickname for Margaret that was used to denote a chatterer, + archaic pie (“magpie”), from Middle English pie, pye, from Old French pie, from Latin pīca, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peyk- (“woodpecker, magpie”). Displaced native Old English agu (“magpie”) and Middle English aguster (“magpie”), whence English haggister.

## Easily confused with
- **Marie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magpie-vs-marie)
- **maple** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magpie-vs-maple)
- **Mamie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magpie-vs-mamie)
- **Maisie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magpie-vs-maisie)
- **Mattie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magpie-vs-mattie)
- **Marnie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magpie-vs-marnie)
- **Marple** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magpie-vs-marple)
- **Massie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magpie-vs-massie)
- **Maguire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magpie-vs-maguire)
- **magpies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magpie-vs-magpies)
- **mage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mage-vs-magpie)
- **magi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magi-vs-magpie)
- **magic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magic-vs-magpie)
- **Magee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/magee-vs-magpie)
- **Maggie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maggie-vs-magpie)
- **Maddie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maddie-vs-magpie)
- **Mackie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mackie-vs-magpie)

## Common misspellings (8)
`amgpie`, `maggpie`, `magipe`, `magpei`, `magppie`, `mapgie`, `mgapie`, `mmagpie`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/magpie