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Joey
Definitions
- 1 A diminutive of the male given names Joe or Joseph.
"Indeed what do the tensomethings, who might be watching the show at that hour, make of jokes like Joey telling Chandler that his uncle Sal has a really big tongue."
- 2 A diminutive of the female given name Josephine.
- 1 The immature young of a marsupial, notably a junior kangaroo, but also a young wallaby, koala, etc.
"As soon as a joey is born, it crawls into its mother's pouch. The joey grows in the pouch."
- 2 A kind of clown.
- 3 A member of the Royal Marines. UK, slang
- 4 A person with cerebral palsy. dated, derogatory, offensive, slang
- 5 A fourpenny piece, or its value; fourpence worth. UK, obsolete, slang
"a joey of brandy"
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- 6 A young child. Australia, slang
- 7 A stupid person. dated, derogatory, offensive, slang
- 8 Ellipsis of joey word. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
"Among the kangaroo words that yield the most joviality and joy are those that conceal multiple joeys."
- 9 A parcel smuggled in to an inmate. Ireland, UK, slang
""Visit in two days though," said Tommo. "Hang in there mate, got a joey coming, we'll be sweet then.""
Etymology
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).
From Joe + -y.
See also for "joey"
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