josh

¹ American  

[josh] / dʒɒʃ /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to chaff; banter in a teasing way.

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noun

1. good-natured banter.

Josh ² American  

[josh] / dʒɒʃ /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Joshua.

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Josh. ³ American  

abbreviation

Bible.

1. Joshua.

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josh ¹ British  

/ dʒɒʃ /

verb

1. to tease (someone) in a bantering way

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noun

1. a teasing or bantering joke

Josh. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Joshua

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Other Word Forms

• josher noun

Etymology

Origin of josh

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Army company in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970, as a group of men trek across the jungle, land in firefights and use downtime to josh and fight over God, country, race and more.

From Los Angeles Times

Grounded by Harden’s natural and loosely charming performance, Khalid treats his nightmare scenario with an alternating sense of anxiety and buoyant, joshing can-do attitude.

From New York Times

The other option is to join the crude, cynical supergroup modeled by the “Expendables” series, in which beloved stars josh and jostle for a cash grab.

From Los Angeles Times

In December, a judge rejected Lake’s assertion her statements were “rhetorical hyperbole” — perhaps she thought “just joshing” wouldn’t have had the same legal heft — and allowed the suit to proceed.

From Los Angeles Times

After two hours of laps, they plunged into a Jacuzzi, where they joshed for a few minutes before calling it a day.

From New York Times