Definition jay
Etymology 1
From Middle English jay, from Old French jai ("jay"; Modern French geai), from Old French jai (“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.
Noun
jay (plural jays)
- Any one 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 colored, usually having a crest, and often noisy.
- Other birds of similar appearance and behavior.
- Any of various large papilionid butterflies of the genus Graphium.
- (archaic) A dull or ignorant person. It survives today in the term jaywalking.
- (obsolete) Promiscuous woman; prostitute.
Etymology 2
Respelling of the letter jy, by analogy with the following letter kay.
Noun
jay (plural jays)
- The name of the Latin-script letter J.
- (slang) A marijuana cigarette; a joint.