Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

a predominantly fawn-colored Old World bird (Garrulus glandarius) of the crow family with a black-and-white crest and wings marked with black, white, and blue
any of various usually crested and largely blue chiefly New World birds that are related to the common Old World jay and have roving habits and harsh voices
— compare blue jay
an impertinent chatterer
dandy sense 1
greenhorn
a moderate blue

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: Noun (1)

Examples

Noun (1)

//a snooty little jay who refused to wear anything but designer labels
//the stranger's incessant chatter was annoying, and she was the kind of jay that I didn't have in mind when I entered the park

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin gaius

jay

noun

jay

noun (1)

ˈjā

a predominantly fawn-colored Old World bird (Garrulus glandarius) of the crow family with a black-and-white crest and wings marked with black, white, and blue
any of various usually crested and largely blue chiefly New World birds that are related to the common Old World jay and have roving habits and harsh voices
— compare blue jay
an impertinent chatterer
dandy sense 1
greenhorn
a moderate blue

noun (2)

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: Noun (1)

Examples

Noun (1)

//a snooty little jay who refused to wear anything but designer labels
//the stranger's incessant chatter was annoying, and she was the kind of jay that I didn't have in mind when I entered the park

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin gaius

jay

noun