budgerigar

Where does the word "budgerigar" come from? It comes from Gamilaraay budgerigar, and was adopted directly into English (1840s).

Budgerigar’s story begins in Gamilaraay: budgerigar meant “the small parakeet.” Possibly meaning good food or good cockatoo, the small parakeet of the Australian outback. It reached English by 1840s as budgerigar. John Gould brought live budgerigars to Britain in 1840, starting the pet trade. Today, budgerigar means a small, colorful Australian parakeet, popular as a pet.

1. Stage 1 · Gamilaraay · 1800s budgerigar "the small parakeet", possibly meaning good food or good cockatoo, the small parakeet of the Australian outback.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1840s budgerigar "a small Australian parakeet", John Gould brought live budgerigars to Britain in 1840, starting the pet trade.