A parrot of south-east Australia, Polytelis swainsonii, the male of which is chiefly green with a yellow face and throat and a red chest band; also called Barraband's parakeet, green leek.
Formerly used also of other Australian parrots of the genus Polytelis..
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Rymer Jones (1810–1880), morphologist and physiologist.