jay
IPA: dʒˈeɪ
noun
- 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.
- Any of various other birds of similar appearance and behaviour.
- The Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis.
- 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.
- The name of the Latin-script letter J.
- (slang) A marijuana cigarette; a joint.
- (countable) An English surname transferred from the nickname from Old French jai (“jay (bird)”), a nickname for a chatty or showy person.
- A placename
- A hamlet in Leintwardine parish, Herefordshire, England; named in the c. 13th century for the Jay family, prominent in that area (OS grid ref SO3974).
- A locale in the United States.
- A town in Santa Rosa County, Florida; named for postmaster J. T. Nowling.
- A town in Franklin County, Maine; named for American statesman and Founding Father John Jay.
- A town in Essex County, New York; named for John Jay.
- A city, the county seat of Delaware County, Oklahoma; named for Jay Washburn, nephew of Cherokee leader Stand Watie.
- A town on the Canadian border in Orleans County, Vermont; named for John Jay.
- A township in Martin County, Minnesota.
- A township in Elk County, Pennsylvania.
- A former settlement in California.
- A diminutive of the male given names James, Jacob, Jack, John, or Jason, or for any other name beginning with ⟨J⟩; also used as a formal given name.
- A female given name
- (India) A male given name from Hindi.
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Examples of "jay" in Sentences
- Jay, let me see how we can keep comity.
- Jay's family is livid on learning of the affair.
- The ruler sent Jay Singh as satrap of Malwa in 1729.
- The team went to the morgue and met Jay and Goldie there.
- Maybe Jay will overcome his repulsion and accept the cartoon.
- The name combines two birds, the blue jay and the sparrow hawk.
- He has a bantering relationship and friendly rivalry with Jay Mariotti.
- Gray jays select food on the basis of profitability to maximize caloric intake.