McCoy

[ muh-koi ]

noun

1. Usually the McCoy or the real McCoy. the genuine thing or person as promised, stated, or implied:

   Those other paintings are copies, but this one is the McCoy.

McCoy

¹

/ məˈkɔɪ /

noun

1. McCoyTony1974MNorthern IrishSPORT AND GAMES: jockey Tony, full name Anthony Peter McCoy. born 1974, Northern Irish national hunt jockey: champion jockey every season since 1995/96

McCoy

²

/ məˈkɔɪ /

noun

1. slang.
   the genuine person or thing (esp in the phrase the real McCoy )

Word History and Origins

Origin of McCoy¹

First recorded in 1880–85; also Mackay, McKie, the clear McCoy (of liquor); of uncertain origin; hypothesized identifications with Mackay, a Scottish clan, and Kid McCoy, nickname of U.S. boxer Norman Selby (1873–1940), are unsubstantiated

Word History and Origins

Origin of McCoy¹

C20: perhaps after Kid McCoy, professional name of Norman Selby (1873–1940), American boxer, who was called ``the real McCoy'' to distinguish him from another boxer of that name

Example Sentences

McCoy has since become an assistant professor at the University of Chicago.

From Science Daily

Under a microscope, most of the heart cockle's shell has a layered structure, with thin plates of aragonite stacked in different orientations, "kind of like fancy brickwork," McCoy said.

From Science Daily

"It looks just completely different than what you'd expect," McCoy said.

From Science Daily

"The shells do a very cool feat," McCoy said.

From Science Daily

Barkley shattered that and easily eclipsed the Eagles franchise record of 217 yards set by LeSean McCoy in 2013.

From Los Angeles Times