See also: Josh and Josh.

English edit

Etymology edit

Disputed origin, first attested in the mid-19th century. The earliest example is capitalized, therefore is likely derived from the proper name Joshua.[1]

Noun edit

josh (plural joshes)

  1. An instance of good-natured banter.

Verb edit

josh (third-person singular simple present joshes, present participle joshing, simple past and past participle joshed)

  1. (transitive) To tease someone in a kindly or friendly fashion.
  2. (intransitive) To make or exchange good-natured jokes.
    • 1902, Jack London, chapter XIV, in A Daughter of the Snows:
      We are old friends, did I not tell you? So I may, what you Americans call, josh with him.
    • 1910, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “The Girl and the Habit”, in Strictly Business[1]:
      “Cut that joshing out,” she said, coolly and briskly. “Who do you think you are talking to? Your check, please. Oh, Lordy!—”
    • 2013 September 13, Russell Brand, “Russell Brand and the GQ awards”, in The Guardian[2]:
      Boris, it seems, is taking it in this spirit, joshing beneath his ever-redeeming barnet that Labour's opposition to military action in Syria is a fey stance that he, as GQ politician of the year, would never be guilty of.

Translations edit

Derived terms edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024), “josh”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Albanian edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Albanian *jāudsja, from Proto-Indo-European *Hyewdʰ- (compare Lithuanian jáudinti (to excite, arouse), Polish judzić (to incite), Latin jubere (to order)).

Verb edit

josh (aorist josha, participle joshur)

  1. to fondle, caress
  2. to entice, seduce

Derived terms edit