Mary Jane

¹ American  

[mair-ee jeyn] / ˈmɛər i ˈdʒeɪn /

noun

1. a small, round sponge cake, usually with a circular indentation on top, for topping with fruit, whipped cream, etc., and served as an individual portion.

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Trademark.

1. Mary Janes, small bits of chocolate, candy, sugar, or the like, for sprinkling on ice cream; sprinkles.

2. a brand of young girls' low-heeled shoe of patent leather having across the instep a single strap that fastens at the side.

Mary Jane ² American  

[mair-ee jeyn] / ˈmɛər i ˌdʒeɪn /

Or maryjane

noun

Slang.

1. marijuana. MJ

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mary jane British  

noun

1. a slang term for marijuana

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Etymology

Origin of Mary Jane

First recorded in 1925–30; translation of Mexican Spanish marijuana, by the popular assumption—probably incorrect—that it is a compound of Spanish María and Juana

Example Sentences

In December, Indonesia also took Mary Jane Veloso off death row and returned her to the Philippines.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2025

“It’s daily moral agony for her,” Mary Jane marvels.

From New York Times • Apr. 23, 2024

Mathes and his friend Mary Jane Parks created the California Environmental Project in 1989 to organize cleanups in natural habitats.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 13, 2023

Pregnancies were very difficult to accurately date in 1955, before ultrasounds were used for medical purposes, said Mary Jane Minkin, a gynecologist at the Yale University School of Medicine.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2023

The monster walked away, her feet no longer in buckled Mary Jane shoes, floating just above the dirt.

From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce