mavis Now poet. and dial.
(ˈmeɪvɪs)
Forms: 4–6 mavys, 5 mawys(se, mavyce, mauvys, maviss, 6 mavyss, Sc. maveis, maves, 6–7 mavisse, 9 dial. mavish, 6– mavis. pl. 4–6 as sing. (also 5 mavies); 7– mavis(s)es.
[a. F. mauvis masc., in OF. fem. (12–13th c.), *malvis (med.L. malvitius, 13th c.; Anglo-L. maviscus, 15th c.), = Sp. malviz (? from Fr.), Neapolitan marvizzo; the ulterior etymology is unknown.]
1. The song-thrush, Turdus musicus.
| ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 665 Thrustles, terins, and mavys, That songen for to winne hem prys. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 330/1 Mavyce, byrde, maviscus, merula, fallica. c 1450 Holland Howlat 712 The Maviss and the Merle syngis. 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. Ep. iii. in Ashm. (1652) 115 Crowes, Popingayes, Pyes, Pekocks, and Mavies. a 1529 Skelton Ph. Sparowe 424 The mauys with her whystell Shal rede there the pystell. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 39 The maueis maid myrtht for to mok the merle. 1595 Spenser Epithal. lxxxiv, So does the Cuckow, when the Mavis sings, Begin his witlesse note apace to clatter. 1604 Drayton Owle 113 In yonder goodly Tree, Where the sweet Merle, and warbling Mavis bee. 1626 Bacon Sylva §676 In Birds; Kites and Kestrels haue a Resemblance with Hawkes;..Black-birds with Thrushes, and Mauisses. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Sheph. ii. iv, Delightfu' notes That warble through the merle or mavis' throats. 1791 Burns Lament Mary Q. Scots 13 The mavis mild wi' many a note, Sings drowsy day to rest. 1810 Scott Lady of L. iv. xii, Merry it is in the good greenwood When the mavis and merle are singing. 1830 Tennyson Claribel, The clear-voiced mavis dwelleth..Where Claribel low-lieth. 1849 Dickens Dav. Copp. iii, ‘Like two young mavishes’, Mr. Peggotty said. 1876 ‘Ouida’ In Winter City viii. 237 The mavis and blackbird were singing. |
| transf. 1821 Scott Kenilw. v, I must visit this mavis [Amy Robsart], brave in apparel..and gay in temper. |
2. mavis skate: a British species of Ray,
Raja oxyrhyncha.
| 1810 Neill Fishes 28 (Jam.). 1828 Fleming Hist. Brit. Anim. 171 Sharp-nosed Ray... May Skate, Mavis Skate. |
† 3. [Perh. a different word.] Some kind of tobacco.
Obs.| 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. xxii. (Roxb.) 274/1 Sorts of Tobacco. Pig taile... Antago. Mavis. |