Magot
(Mag"ot) n. [F.] (Zoöl.) The Barbary ape.
Magot-pie
(Mag"ot-pie`) n. A magpie. [Obs.] Shak.
Magpie
(Mag"pie) n. [OE. & Prov. E. magot pie, maggoty pie, fr. Mag, Maggot, equiv. to Margaret,
and fr. F. Marquerite, and common name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. margarita pearl, Gr.
prob. of Eastern origin. See Pie magpie, and cf. the analogous names Tomtit, and Jackdaw.] (Zoöl.)
Any one of numerous species of the genus Pica and related genera, allied to the jays, but having a
long graduated tail.
The common European magpie (Pica pica, or P. caudata) is a black and white noisy and mischievous
bird. It can be taught to speak. The American magpie (P. Hudsonica) is very similar. The yellow-belled
magpie (P. Nuttalli) inhabits California. The blue magpie (Cyanopolius Cooki) inhabits Spain. Other allied
species are found in Asia. The Tasmanian and Australian magpies are crow shrikes, as the white magpie
the black magpie (Strepera fuliginosa), and the Australian magpie (Cracticus picatus).
Magpie lark (Zoöl.), a common Australian bird conspicuously marked with black and white; — called
also little magpie. — Magpie moth (Zoöl.), a black and white European geometrid moth (Abraxas
grossulariata); the harlequin moth. Its larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes.
Maguari
(||Ma`gua*ri") n. [From native name: cf. Pg. magoari.] (Zoöl.) A South American stork having
a forked tail.
Maguey
(Mag"uey) n. [Sp. maguey, Mexican maguei and metl.] (Bot.) The century plant, a species
of Agave See Agave.
Magyar
(Mag"yar) (mag"yär; Hung. mod"yor), n. [Hung.]
1. (Ethnol.) One of the dominant people of Hungary, allied to the Finns; a Hungarian.
2. The language of the Magyars.
Maha
(||Ma"ha) n. (Zoöl.) A kind of baboon; the wanderoo.
Mahabarata
(||Ma*ha*ba"ra*ta ||Ma*ha*bha"ra*tam) n. [Skr. mahabharata.] A celebrated epic poem of
the Hindus. It is of great length, and is chiefly devoted to the history of a civil war between two dynasties
of ancient India.
Mahaled
(||Ma*ha"led) n.[Ar. mahled.] (Bot.) A cherry tree (Prunus Mahaleb) of Southern Europe.
The wood is prized by cabinetmakers, the twigs are used for pipe stems, the flowers and leaves yield a
perfume, and from the fruit a violet dye and a fermented liquor (like kirschwasser) are prepared.
Maharajah
(||Ma*ha*ra"jah) n. [Skr. maharaja; mahat great + raja king.] A sovereign prince in India; —
a title given also to other persons of high rank.
Maharif
(||Ma`ha*rif") n. (Zoöl.) An African antelope (Hippotragus Bakeri). Its face is striped with black
and white.
Maharmah
(||Ma*har"mah) n. A muslin wrapper for the head and the lower part of the face, worn by
Turkish and Armenian women when they go abroad.
Mahdi
(Mah"di) n. [Ar., guide, leader.] Among Mohammedans, the last imam or leader of the faithful.
The Sunni, the largest sect of the Mohammedans, believe that he is yet to appear.
