toppie
(ˈtɒpɪ)
[perh. f. topknot.]
A small brown bulbul of the genus Pycnonotus, found in southern Africa, either the Cape bulbul, P. capensis, or the red-eyed bulbul, P. nigricans.
| 1899 G. Russell Hist. Old Durban viii. 176 Doves cooed and ‘Toppies’ answered each other obtrusively. 1940 A. Roberts Birds S. Afr. 225 Cape Bulbul, or Toppie..is not such a common bird as the Layard's Bulbul found further east. 1951 R. Campbell Light on Dark Horse x. 142 The commonest bird in Africa, the Toppie as we call him.., is a great character. 1964 D. Varaday Gara-Yaka xv. 126 His best friends became the Toppies, the conical-helmeted small dark birds that disclose the presence of snakes. 1971 J. Drummond Farewell Party vi. 35 There were birds..finches and toppies and a collared sunbird. |