C14: from Old French mauvis thrush; origin obscure
mavis in American English
(ˈmeɪvɪs)
noun
song thrush
Word origin
OFr mauvis < ?
mavis in American English
(ˈmeivɪs)
noun
Brit, chiefly literary
a song thrush
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME mavys ‹ AF mauviz, prob. equiv. to ma(u)ve seagull (‹ OE mæwmew2) + -iz of unclear orig.]This word is first recorded in the period 1350–1400. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: absolute, drag, index, kick, train