joey

See also: Joey

English

Pronunciation

• 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.
2. The shorter word whose letters can be found within a kangaroo 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.

3. (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."

Translations

kangaroo joey

• Alyawarr: antartwey, ntartey, aherr akwerrk
• Chinese: 小袋鼠 (xiǎo dàishǔ)
• Dutch: kangoeroejong n
• Eastern Arrernte: atwetye
• Esperanto: kanguruido
• Finnish: kengurunpoikanen
• Irish: cangarú óg m
• Kala Lagaw Ya: kaziwœsar
• Kariyarra: kurlukurlu
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Malay: anak kanggaru
• Martuthunira: mirtily
• Mongolian: сэмж (mn) (semž)
• Pitjantjatjara: wanangaṯa, maḻu, kanyaḻa kuḻuny, kanyaḻa kuḻunypa
• Russian: кенгурёнок (ru) m (kengurjónok), джо́уи m (džóui)
• Volapük: (♂♀) kangurül, (♂) hikangurül, (♀) jikangurül
• Wambaya: ganarrgulyi
• Warlpiri: tiripardu, kalypa
• Western Arrernte: twetye

koala joey

• Dutch: koalajong n
• Esperanto: koalido
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Malay: anak koala
• Russian: коалёнок (ru) m (koaljónok), джо́уи m (džóui)

wallaby joey

• Dutch: wallabyjong n
• Esperanto: valabiido
• Kala Lagaw Ya: kaziwœsar
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Malay: anak walabi
• Russian: детёныш ва́ллаби m (detjónyš vállabi), джо́уи m (džóui)

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “joey”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Etymology 2

From Joseph Grimaldi.

Noun

joey (plural joeys)

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

Etymology 3

Noun

joey (plural joeys)

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

   Synonym: jolly

Etymology 4

From Joey Deacon, 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. (slang, derogatory, offensive in British) A person with cerebal palsy.
2. (slang, derogatory, offensive in British) A stupid person.

Related terms

• Spaz
• Deacon
• Deak

Anagrams

• Joye