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jay

Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒeɪ/

The English word “jay” has 8 meanings listed here.

noun

  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. The Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis.
  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. Promiscuous woman; prostitute.
  7. The name of the Latin script letter J/j.
  8. A marijuana cigarette; a joint.

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 at gay.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.