joey
English
editPronunciation
editEtymology 1
editUnknown. Older and more general sources state that joey comes from an Australian aboriginal language (cited as joè), but newer sources that focus on Australian English and aboriginal languages say the origin is unknown. The Australian National Dictionary includes a sense of “young possum” with citations predating the earliest “young kangaroo” citations.
Noun
editjoey (plural joeys)
- The immature young of a marsupial, notably a junior kangaroo, but also a young wallaby, koala, etc.
- (Australia, slang) A young child.
- Ellipsis of joey word.
- 1998, Richard Lederer, Dave Morice, The Word Circus, page 129:
- Among the kangaroo words that yield the most joviality and joy are those that conceal multiple joeys.
- 2005, Anu Garg, Another Word a Day, page 132:
- Sometimes a kangaroo word has more than one joey.
- (UK, Ireland, prison slang) A parcel smuggled in to an inmate.
- 2012, John Hoskison, Inside: One Man's Experience of Prison:
- "Visit in two days though," said Tommo. "Hang in there mate, got a joey coming, we'll be sweet then."
Derived terms
editTranslations
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References
edit- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “joey”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- “joey n.3”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang, Jonathon Green, 2016–present
- “joey n.4”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang, Jonathon Green, 2016–present
Etymology 2
editFrom Joseph Grimaldi (1778–1837), a popular English entertainer.
Noun
editjoey (plural joeys)
References
edit- “joey n.1”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang, Jonathon Green, 2016–present
Etymology 3
editNoun
editjoey (plural joeys)
- (UK, military, slang) A member of the Royal Marines.
- Synonym: jolly
Etymology 4
editFrom British TV personality Joey Deacon (1920–1981), who was the focus of Blue Peter's 1981 charity campaign. The programme was aimed at children, who then picked the term up and used it as an insult.
Noun
editjoey (plural joeys)
- (dated, slang, derogatory, offensive in British) A person with cerebral palsy.
- (dated, slang, derogatory, offensive in British) A stupid person.
See also
editEtymology 5
editSaid to have been named after Scottish politician Joseph Hume (1777–1855).
Noun
editjoey (plural joeys)
References
edit- John Camden Hotten (1873) The Slang Dictionary
Anagrams
edit- English 2-syllable words
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- Rhymes:English/əʊi
- Rhymes:English/əʊi/2 syllables
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- English lemmas
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- Australian English
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- English ellipses
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- English prison slang
- en:Theater
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- English eponyms
- en:Baby animals
- en:Circus
- en:Marsupials
- en:People