jaywalkEnglishOxford New American Dictionaryjaywalk /ˈjāˌwôk, ˈdʒeɪˌwɔk / ▸ verb [no object, with adverbial of direction] mainly North American cross or walk in the street or road unlawfully or without regard for approaching traffic: you jaywalked across a busy four-lane street. – DERIVATIVES jaywalker /ˈjāˌwôkər, ˈdʒeɪˌwɔkər / noun– ORIGIN early 20th century : from jay in the colloquial sense ‘silly person’ + walk.