name
Meaning 1
A diminutive of the male given names Joe or Joseph.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
joey
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/ˈd͡ʒoʊ.i/
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rhymes with -əʊi
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jōˈ.ē
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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CMU ARPABET: JH OW1 IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
name
Meaning 2
A diminutive of the female given name Josephine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
The immature young of a marsupial, notably a junior kangaroo, but also a young wallaby, koala, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A young child.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
Ellipsis of joey word.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
A parcel smuggled in to an inmate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Ireland, UK, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 7
A kind of clown.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: arts, circus, entertainment, hobbies, lifestyle, performing-arts, sports, theater
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 8
A member of the Royal Marines.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, slang
Topics: government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: jolly
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 9
A person with cerebral palsy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, derogatory, offensive, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
A stupid person.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, derogatory, offensive, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 11
A fourpenny piece, or its value; fourpence worth.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, obsolete, slang
Examples
- a joey of brandy
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English Joe Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English Joey From Joe + -y.
Unknown. 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.
From Joseph Grimaldi (1778–1837), a popular English entertainer.
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.
Said to have been named after Scottish politician Joseph Hume (1777–1855).
Across languages
Translations
51 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Adnyamathanha: urdlu vapa — kangaroo joey
- Alyawarr: antartwey — kangaroo joey
- Alyawarr: ntartey — kangaroo joey
- Alyawarr: aherr akwerrk — kangaroo joey
- Eastern Arrernte: atwetye — kangaroo joey
- Western Arrernte: twetye — kangaroo joey
- Chinese: 小袋鼠 (xiǎodàishǔ) — kangaroo joey
- Dutch: kangoeroejong — kangaroo joey
- Esperanto: kanguruido — kangaroo joey
- Finnish: kengurunpoikanen — kangaroo joey
- Irish: cangarú óg — kangaroo joey
- Kala Lagaw Ya: kaziwœsar — kangaroo joey
- Kariyarra: kurlukurlu — kangaroo joey
- Kaurna: idla — kangaroo joey
- Malay: anak kanggaru — kangaroo joey
- Martuthunira: mirtily — kangaroo joey
- Mongolian: сэмж (semž) — kangaroo joey
- Narungga: guddaga — kangaroo joey
- Ngarrindjeri: yali — kangaroo joey
- Pitjantjatjara: wanangaṯa — kangaroo joey
- Pitjantjatjara: maḻu — kangaroo joey
- Pitjantjatjara: kanyaḻa kuḻuny — kangaroo joey
- Pitjantjatjara: kanyaḻa kuḻunypa — kangaroo joey
- Russian: кенгурёнок (kengurjónok) — kangaroo joey
- Russian: джо́уи (džóui) — kangaroo joey
- Swedish: känguruunge — kangaroo joey
- Turkish: kanguru yavrusu — kangaroo joey
- Ukrainian: кенгуря́ (kenhurjá) — kangaroo joey
- Ukrainian: кенгуреня́ (kenhurenjá) — kangaroo joey
- Volapük: kangurül — kangaroo joey
- Volapük: hikangurül — kangaroo joey
- Volapük: jikangurül — kangaroo joey
- Wambaya: ganarrgulyi — kangaroo joey
- Warlpiri: tiripardu — kangaroo joey
- Warlpiri: kalypa — kangaroo joey
- Dutch: koalajong — koala joey
- Esperanto: koalido — koala joey
- Malay: anak koala — koala joey
- Russian: коалёнок (koaljónok) — koala joey
- Russian: джо́уи (džóui) — koala joey
- Swedish: koalaunge — koala joey
- Ukrainian: коаленя́ (koalenjá) — koala joey
- Dutch: wallabyjong — wallaby joey
- Esperanto: valabiido — wallaby joey
- Kala Lagaw Ya: kaziwœsar — wallaby joey
- Malay: anak walabi — wallaby joey
- Narungga: wagaggu — wallaby joey
- Russian: детёныш ва́ллаби (detjónyš vállabi) — wallaby joey
- Russian: джо́уи (džóui) — wallaby joey
- Swedish: vallabyunge — wallaby joey
- Ukrainian: кенгуреня́ вала́бі (kenhurenjá valábi) — wallaby joey