joey
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈd͡ʒoʊ.i/
- enPR: jōˈ.ē
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -əʊi
Etymology 1
Unknown. Older and more general sources state that joey comes from an Australian aboriginal language, 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
joey (plural joeys)
- The immature young of a marsupial, notably a junior kangaroo, but also a young wallaby, koala, etc.
- 2006, Bobbie Kalman; Robin R. Johnson, Koalas and Other Marsupials, Crabtree Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 9:
- As soon as a joey is born, it crawls into its mother's pouch. The joey grows in the pouch.
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- (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.
- 1998, Richard Lederer, Dave Morice, The Word Circus (page 129)
- (UK, 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."
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Translations
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References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “joey”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- Jonathon Green (2023), “joey n.3”, in Green's Dictionary of Slang
- Jonathon Green (2023), “joey n.4”, in Green's Dictionary of Slang
Etymology 2
From Joseph Grimaldi (1778–1837), a popular English entertainer.
Noun
joey (plural joeys)
- (theater, circus) A kind of clown.
References
- Jonathon Green (2023), “joey n.1”, in Green's Dictionary of Slang
Noun
joey (plural joeys)
- (UK, military, slang) A member of the Royal Marines.
- Synonym: jolly
Etymology 4
From 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
joey (plural joeys)
- (slang, derogatory, offensive in Britain) A person with cerebral palsy.
- (slang, derogatory, offensive in Britain) A stupid person.
See also
- spaz
- deacon
- deak
Etymology 5
Said to have been named after Scottish politician Joseph Hume (1777–1855).
Noun
joey (plural joeys)
- (UK, slang, obsolete) A fourpenny piece, or its value; fourpence worth.
- a joey of brandy
References
- 1873, John Camden Hotten, The Slang Dictionary
Anagrams
- Joye