oy

or oi

[ oi ]

/ ɔɪ /

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interjection

(used to express dismay, pain, annoyance, grief, etc.)

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justice, equity, diversity, inclusion

justice, energy, determination, instruction

joy, equality, diversity, involvement

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Origin of oy

Borrowed into English from Yiddish around 1890–95

Words nearby oy

oxytone, oxyuriasis, oxyuricide, Oxyuridae, Oxyuris, oy, Oyama, Oyashio Current, oyelet, oyer, oyer and terminer

Other definitions for oy (2 of 2)

oy²

or oe

[ oi ]

/ ɔɪ /

noun Scot.

a grandchild.

Obsolete. a nephew or niece.

Origin of oy

1425–75; late Middle English (north and Scots ) o(o), oy(e) <Scots Gaelic ogha; see O'

How to use oy in a sentence

I urge my Republican friends … I look forward to working with leaders of both parties … Oy.
Advice for Obama: Forget Bulworth. Try Rambo.|Michael Tomasky|May 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
You put the id back in Yid, Portnoy instructed, and you come to understand the “oy” in goy.
Who Is Philip Roth’s Portnoy Satirizing?|Bernard Avishai|August 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Oy Vey: On Tuesday, Mr. Kanye Kardashian revealed a song for his girlfriend, Kim.
Kimye Rumored To Be In Talks for a Shoe Line; Anna Piaggi Inspired Louis Vuitton||August 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The axis Ox is often called the real axis, and the axis Oy the imaginary axis.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various

O is called the origin, and x′Ox, y′Oy the axes of x and y respectively.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 6|Various
We might invoke the initial letters of sausage to account for part of the change, but the oy remains a mystery.
The Romance of Words (4th ed.)|Ernest Weekley
In the British Museum copy of this number an old hand has supplied the omitted letters 'oy' and we have Mr. Hoyle.
The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume VI|Aphra Behn
As before in 31, the rotation may be resolved into a shear-pair, in planes perpendicular to Ox and Oy.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 2|Various