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• jay
  jay

  noun

  any of several noisy, vivacious birds of the crow family, subfamily Garrulinae, as the crested Garrulus glandarius, of the Old World, having brownish plumage with blue, black, and white barring on the wings.
• Jay
  Jay

  noun

  John, 1745–1829, U.S. statesman and jurist: first chief justice of the U.S. 1789–95.

jay

¹ American  

[jey] / dʒeɪ /

noun

1. any of several noisy, vivacious birds of the crow family, subfamily Garrulinae, as the crested Garrulus glandarius, of the Old World, having brownish plumage with blue, black, and white barring on the wings.

2. Informal. a simpleminded or gullible person.

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jay ² American  

[jey] / dʒeɪ /

noun

Slang.

1. a marijuana cigarette.

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Jay ³ American  

[jey] / dʒeɪ /

noun

1. John, 1745–1829, U.S. statesman and jurist: first chief justice of the U.S. 1789–95.

2. a male given name.

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jay ¹ British  

/ dʒeɪ /

noun

1. any of various passerine birds of the family Corvidae (crows), esp the Eurasian Garrulus glandarius, with a pinkish-brown body, blue-and-black wings, and a black-and-white crest See also blue jay

2. a foolish or gullible person

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Jay ² British  

/ dʒeɪ /

noun

1. John 1745–1829, American statesman, jurist, and diplomat; first chief justice of the Supreme Court (1789–95). He negotiated the treaty with Great Britain ( Jay's treaty , 1794), that settled outstanding disputes

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Etymology

Origin of jay¹

1275–35; Middle English jai < Middle French < Late Latin gāius, gāia, perhaps after Latin Gāius man's name

Origin of jay²

First recorded in 1965–70; probably spelling of initial consonant of joint, perhaps suggested by pig Latin version ointjay

Example Sentences

Warmer temperatures, the scientists hypothesize, make jay nests susceptible to predation by snakes for a longer period of the Florida spring than in the past.

From Science Daily • Nov. 25, 2024

In downtown Perry, Iowa, on Friday, residents wore blue to support each other, reflecting the school district’s mascot, the blue jay.

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2024

Blue jays, eastern bluebirds, and indigo buntings are all blue birds, but the rich azure of an indigo bunting is nothing like the softer, sky blue of a jay.

From National Geographic • Dec. 7, 2023

Researchers have said that understanding the bird’s needs and effects on its habitats will be fundamental to managing Western environments to ensure pinyon jay colonies can be protected.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 16, 2023

I was uncertain if this referred to Bud or to a literal blue jay, or if, perhaps, we were heading into the territory of senile dementia.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt