ˈpōp noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pāpa, from Late Latin papa, from Greek pappas, papas, title of bishops, literally, papa — more at papa
1.
a. often capitalized : the bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church
b. : the Eastern Orthodox or Coptic patriarch of Alexandria
c. : an Eastern Orthodox priest
2. : a spiritual head of any of various non-Christian religions
the Taoist pope
the Caodaist pope
3. : one held to resemble a pope usually in authority or position
schoolmasters, professors … popes of knowledge — Holbrook Jackson
4. : ruff I 1
5. : any of various birds: as
a. dialect England : puffin
b. dialect England : bullfinch
c. dialect England : red-backed shrike