joey

¹

[joh-ee]

noun

Australian.

plural

joeys 

1. any young animal, especially a kangaroo.

2. a young child.

Joey

²

[joh-ee]

noun

plural

Joeys 

1. a clown, especially in the circus or pantomime and puppet theater.

joey

³

[joh-ee]

noun

British Slang.

plural

joeys 

1. a threepenny piece.

2. (formerly) a fourpenny piece.

Joey

⁴

[joh-ee]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Joe or Joseph.

joey

/ ˈdʒəʊɪ /

noun

1. a young kangaroo or possum

2. a young animal or child

Word History and Origins

Origin of joey¹

First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain

Origin of joey²

1895–1900; diminutive of Joseph, after Joseph Grimaldi

Origin of joey³

First recorded in 1860–65; named after Joseph Hume (1777–1855), English politician who favored the coinage of the fourpenny piece

Word History and Origins

Origin of joey¹

C19: from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

Both male and female koalas can contract the disease, which is a different strain to the one found in humans, while joeys can catch it through feeding in their mother's pouch.

From BBC

She says she ran across the road "not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me".

From BBC

It is only allowed if the joey is in need of help because its mother has died, wildlife veterinarian Tania Bishop told ABC News.

From BBC

So far only three of the vaccinated koalas in this research trial have contracted the disease, though all recovered, and encouragingly, more than two dozen joeys have been born - bucking the infertility trend.

From BBC

Even as joeys, he found, individual kangaroos seemed to have distinct personalities.

From Science Magazine