jaywalk

[jey-wawk]

verb (used without object)

to cross a street at a place other than a regular crossing or in a heedless manner, as diagonally or against a traffic light.

Origin of jaywalk

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; jay¹ + walk

Related formsjay·walk·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for jaywalk

jaywalk

verb

(intr) to cross or walk in a street recklessly or illegally

Derived Formsjaywalker, nounjaywalking, noun

Word Origin for jaywalk

C20: from jay (sense 2)

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