What does the adjective "pavonine" mean?

"Pavonine" is an adjective that refers to anything that is of, relating to, or resembling the peacock. The word is derived from the Latin word "pavoninus," which means "peacock-coloured".

The term "pavonine" can be used to describe a variety of things, including colours, patterns, and textures. For example, a fabric with a pattern that resembles the iridescent feathers of a peacock could be described as "pavonine". Similarly, a piece of jewelry that features a peacock feather design could also be described as "pavonine".

The word "pavonine" can also be used to describe the behaviour of peacocks. For instance, if someone were to say that a person was "strutting around like a pavonine peacock," they would be implying that the person was showing off in a flamboyant or ostentatious manner.

In literature, the term "pavonine" has been used to describe a variety of things. For example, in the poem "The Peacock" by Edward Thomas, the bird is described as having a "pavonine head". Similarly, in the novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde, the character Dorian Gray is described as wearing a "pavonine-coloured waistcoat".