jay

Meaning

1. Any of the numerous species of birds belonging to several genera within the family Corvidae, including Garrulus, Cyanocitta, Aphelocoma, Perisoreus, Cyanocorax, Gymnorhinus, Cyanolyca, Ptilostomus, and Calocitta, allied to the crows, but smaller, more graceful in form, often handsomely coloured, usually having a crest, and often noisy.
2. Any of various other birds of similar appearance and behaviour.
3. Any of various other birds of similar appearance and behaviour.
4. Any of various large papilionid butterflies of the genus Graphium.
5. A dull or ignorant person. It survives today in the term jaywalking.
6. (obsolete) Promiscuous woman; prostitute.

Synonyms

magpie

chatterbox

pie

🥧

blue jay

greenhorn

jackdaw

jaybird

joint

patterer

simpleton

bluejay

J

J

L

L

gullible person

Eurasian jay

spliff

jy

chatterer

dandy

fatty

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈd͡ʒeɪ/

Etymology

From Middle English jay, from Old French jai ("jay"; Modern French geai), either from Late Latin gaius (“jay”), or from Old French gai (“gay, merry”), so named due to its plumage, from Old Frankish *gāhi (“quick, impetuous”), from Proto-Germanic *ganhuz, *ganhwaz (“sudden”), cognate with Dutch gaai (“jay”). More on the latter etymology at gay.