joey

See also: Joey

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒoʊ.i/
• enPR: jōˈ.ē

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊi

Etymology 1

Unknown. Older and more general sources state that joey comes from an Australian aboriginal language, 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.

Noun

joey (plural joeys)

1. The immature young of a marsupial, notably a junior kangaroo, but also a young wallaby, koala, etc.
   • 2006, Bobbie Kalman, Robin R. Johnson, Koalas and Other Marsupials, Crabtree Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 9:

     As soon as a joey is born, it crawls into its mother's pouch. The joey grows in the pouch.

2. (Australia, slang) A young child.
3. Ellipsis of joey word.
   • 1998, Richard Lederer, Dave Morice, The Word Circus, page 129:

     Among the kangaroo words that yield the most joviality and joy are those that conceal multiple joeys.

   • 2005, Anu Garg, Another Word a Day, page 132:

     Sometimes a kangaroo word has more than one joey.

4. (UK, prison slang) A parcel smuggled in to an inmate.
   • 2012, John Hoskison, Inside: One Man's Experience of Prison:

     "Visit in two days though," said Tommo. "Hang in there mate, got a joey coming, we'll be sweet then."

Derived terms

• joey word
• wood and water joey

 

Translations

kangaroo joey

• Adnyamathanha: urdlu vapa
• Alyawarr: antartwey, ntartey, aherr akwerrk
• Chinese: 小袋鼠 (zh) (xiǎodàishǔ) (xiǎo dàishǔ)
• Dutch: kangoeroejong n
• Eastern Arrernte: atwetye
• Esperanto: kanguruido
• Finnish: kengurunpoikanen
• Irish: cangarú óg m
• Kala Lagaw Ya: kaziwœsar
• Kariyarra: kurlukurlu
• Kaurna: idla
• Malay: anak kanggaru
• Martuthunira: mirtily
• Mongolian: сэмж (mn) (semž)
• Narungga: guddaga
• Ngarrindjeri: yali
• Pitjantjatjara: wanangaṯa, maḻu, kanyaḻa kuḻuny, kanyaḻa kuḻunypa
• Russian: кенгурёнок (ru) m (kengurjónok), джо́уи m (džóui)
• Ukrainian: кенгуря́ (kenhurjá), кенгуреня́ n (kenhurenjá)
• Volapük: (♂♀) kangurül, (♂) hikangurül, (♀) jikangurül
• Wambaya: ganarrgulyi
• Warlpiri: tiripardu, kalypa
• Western Arrernte: twetye

koala joey

• Dutch: koalajong n
• Esperanto: koalido
• Malay: anak koala
• Russian: коалёнок m (koaljónok), джо́уи m (džóui)
• Ukrainian: коаленя́ (koalenjá)

wallaby joey

• Dutch: wallabyjong n
• Esperanto: valabiido
• Kala Lagaw Ya: kaziwœsar
• Malay: anak walabi
• Narungga: wagaggu
• Russian: детёныш ва́ллаби m (detjónyš vállabi), джо́уи m (džóui)
• Ukrainian: кенгуреня́ вала́бі (kenhurenjá valábi)

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “joey”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
• Jonathon Green (2024) “joey n.³”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang
• Jonathon Green (2024) “joey n.⁴”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Etymology 2

From Joseph Grimaldi (1778–1837), a popular English entertainer.

Noun

joey (plural joeys)

1. (theater, circus) A kind of clown.

References

• Jonathon Green (2024) “joey n.¹”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Etymology 3

Noun

joey (plural joeys)

1. (UK, military, slang) A member of the Royal Marines.

   Synonym: jolly

Etymology 4

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.

Noun

joey (plural joeys)

1. (dated, slang, derogatory, offensive in British) A person with cerebral palsy.
2. (dated, slang, derogatory, offensive in British) A stupid person.

See also

• spaz
• deacon
• deak

Etymology 5

Said to have been named after Scottish politician Joseph Hume (1777–1855).

Noun

joey (plural joeys)

1. (UK, slang, obsolete) A fourpenny piece, or its value; fourpence worth.

   a joey of brandy

References

• John Camden Hotten (1873) The Slang Dictionary

Anagrams

• Joye