joystick

or joy stick

[ joi-stik ]

/ ˈdʒɔɪˌstɪk /

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noun

Informal. the control stick of an airplane, tank, or other vehicle.

Computers. a lever resembling this, used to control movement of a cursor or other graphic element for video games and computer graphics.Compare mouse (def. 4), stylus (def. 3).

any leverlike switch for controlling, manipulating, guiding, or the like.

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Origin of joystick

First recorded in 1905–10; joy + stick¹

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

How to use joystick in a sentence

The light-spot cursor and joy-stick method replace the light pen in this case.
On-Line Data-Acquisition Systems in Nuclear Physics, 1969|H. W. Fulbright et al.
"Getting near the line," said Barry, and pushed the joy-stick steadily forward.
Air Men o' War|Boyd Cable
Barcroft, his hands resting lightly on the "joy-stick," was keenly alert to every forthcoming move of his adversary.
Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.|Percy F. Westerman
Once the joy stick is released it gradually comes back toward the pilot.
Air Service Boys Over The Rhine|Charles Amory Beach

A "joy stick" is a contrivance on an aeroplane by the manipulation of which the plane is held on a level keel.
Air Service Boys Over The Rhine|Charles Amory Beach

British Dictionary definitions for joystick

joystick

/ (ˈdʒɔɪˌstɪk) /

noun

informal the control stick of an aircraft or of any of various machines

computing a lever by means of which the display on a screen may be controlled used esp for games, flight simulators, etc

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