jay

1
[ jey ]
See synonyms for jay on Thesaurus.com
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.: Compare blue jay, gray jay.

  2. Informal. a simpleminded or gullible person.

Origin of jay

1
1275–35; Middle English jai<Middle French <Late Latin gāius, gāia, perhaps after Latin Gāius man's name

Words Nearby jay

Other definitions for jay (2 of 3)

jay2
[ jey ]

nounSlang.
  1. a marijuana cigarette.

Origin of jay

2
First recorded in 1965–70; probably spelling of initial consonant of joint, perhaps suggested by pig Latin version ointjay

Other definitions for Jay (3 of 3)

Jay
[ jey ]

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

  2. a male given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use jay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jay (1 of 2)

jay

/ (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

Origin of jay

1
C13: from Old French jai, from Late Latin gāius, perhaps from proper name Gāius

British Dictionary definitions for Jay (2 of 2)

Jay

/ (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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