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. (archaic) 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

L

gullible person

Eurasian jay

spliff

jy

chatterer

dandy

fatty

Translations

geai

ghiandaia

Eichelhäher

gaig

arrendajo

gaai

gaio

κίσσα

geai des chênes

alakarga

Vlaamse gaai

gralha

καρακάξα

Garrulus glandarius

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈd͡ʒeɪ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: jay

Cognate with Dutch: gaai

In summary

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 at gay.