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jay

1
[ jey ]
/ dʒeɪ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR jay ON THESAURUS.COM

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.Compare blue jay, gray jay.
Informal. a simpleminded or gullible person.

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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

jaws, jaw's-harp, Jaws of Life, jaw-winking syndrome, Jaxartes, jay, Jaya, Jayapura, Jayawardene, Jayawijaya, jaybird

Definition for jay (2 of 3)

jay2
[ jey ]
/ dʒeɪ /

noun Slang.

a marijuana cigarette.

Origin of jay

2
1970–75; probably spelling of initial consonant of joint, perhaps suggested by Pig Latin version ointjay

Definition for jay (3 of 3)

Jay
[ jey ]
/ dʒeɪ /

noun

John, 1745–1829, U.S. statesman and jurist: first chief justice of the U.S. 1789–95.
a male given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to jay

chump, cinch, fall guy, mark, mug, patsy, pushover, scapegoat, sitting duck, soft touch, sucker, doormat, pigeon

Example sentences from the Web for jay

British Dictionary definitions for jay (1 of 2)

jay
/ (dʒeɪ) /

noun

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 crestSee also blue jay
a foolish or gullible person

Word Origin for jay

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

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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012