different between jay vs jaybird

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: j?, IPA^(key): /d?e?/
• Rhymes: -e?

Etymology 1

From Middle English jay, from Old French jai ("jay"; Modern French geai), from Old French gai (“gay, merry”), so named due to its plumage, from Old Frankish *g?hi (“quick, impetuous”), from Proto-Germanic *ganhuz, *ganhwaz (“sudden”), cognate with Dutch gaai (“jay”). More at gay.

Noun

jay (plural jays)

1. 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 coloured, usually having a crest, and often noisy.
2. Other birds of similar appearance and behaviour.
3. Any of various large papilionid butterflies of the genus Graphium.
4. (archaic) A dull or ignorant person. It survives today in the term jaywalking.
   • 1900, Harry B. Norris, Burlington Bertie (song)

     Burlington Bertie's the latest young jay
     He rents a swell flat somewhere Kensington way
     He spends the good oof that his pater has made
     Along with the Brandy and Soda Brigade.

5. (obsolete) Promiscuous woman; prostitute.

Synonyms

• (bird): Jenny jay, jay pie, k, kae (UK); bluejay, whisky jack (US)
• (ignorant person): See Thesaurus:ignoramus
• (promiscuous woman): See Thesaurus:promiscuous woman or Thesaurus:prostitute

Hyponyms

• (bird): Old World jay, gray jay, American jay

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• Jay on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Corvidae on Wikispecies.Wikispecies

Etymology 2

Respelling of the letter jy (which see), by analogy with the following letter kay.

Noun

jay (plural jays)

1. The name of the Latin-script letter J.
2. (slang) A marijuana cigarette; a joint.
   • 2009, Caitlin Moran, The Times, 23 Mar 2009:

     Although sympathetic, my main reaction was to think: “Some people can handle it, and some people can’t,” and then smugly light up a big fat jay.

Derived terms

• deejay
• jaycee

Translations

See also

• (Latin-script letter names) letter; a, bee, cee, dee, e, ef, gee, aitch, i, jay, kay, el, em, en, o, pee, cue, ar, ess, tee, u, vee, double-u, ex, wye, zee / zed

References

• jay in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Kaqchikel

Noun

jay

1. home

Middle English

Alternative forms

• jai, gaye, jey

Etymology

From Old French jai, from Frankish *g?hi or Late Latin gaius. Doublet of gay.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??i?/

Noun

jay (plural jayes)

1. jay (bird)

Descendants

• English: jay
• Scots: jay

References

• “jai, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-18.

English

Etymology

jay +? bird

Noun

jaybird (plural jaybirds)

1. A jay or blue jay.
   • 1894: Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer Abroad

     "When I say birds of a feather flocks together, it's a metaphorical way of saying -- "

     "But dey don't, Mars Tom. No, sir, 'deed dey don't. Dey ain't no feathers dat's more alike den a bluebird en a jaybird, but ef you waits till you catches dem birds together, you'll -- "

     "Oh, give us a rest! You can't get the simplest little thing through your thick skull. Now don't bother me any more."

2. (US, colloquial) One who talks incessantly.

   Belinda was a jaybird and could prattle on for hours about the latest gossip.

Derived terms

• naked as a jaybird