What is "jay"

Jay \Jay\, n. [F. geai, OF. gai, jaj, perh. fr. OHG. g[=a]hi. Cf. Gay.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of the numerous species of birds belonging to Garrulus, Cyanocitta, and allied genera of the family Corvidae. They are allied to the crows, but are smaller, more graceful in form, often handsomely colored, and usually have a crest.

Note: The European jay ( Garrulus glandarius) is a large and handsomely colored species, having the body pale reddish brown, lighter beneath; tail and wing quills blackish; the primary coverts barred with bright blue and black; throat, tail coverts, and a large spot on the wings, white. Called also jay pie, Jenny jay, and k[ae]. The common blue jay ( Cyanocitta cristata.), and the related species, are brilliantly colored, and have a large erectile crest. The California jay ( Aphelocoma Californica), the Florida jay ( Aphelocoma Floridana), and the green jay ( Xanthoura luxuosa), of Texas and Mexico, are large, handsome, crested species. The Canada jay ( Perisoreus Canadensis), and several allied species, are much plainer and have no crest. See Blue jay, and Whisky jack.

Jay thrush (Zo["o]l.), any one several species of Asiatic singing birds, of the genera Garrulax, Grammatoptila, and related genera of the family Crateropodid[ae]; as, the white-throated jay thrush ( Garrulax albogularis) (also called the white-throated laughingthrush), of India.

c.1300, common European bird (Garrulus glandarinus), from Old North French gai, Old French jai "magpie, jay," from Late Latin gaius "a jay," probably echoic and supposedly influenced by Latin Gaius, a common Roman proper name. For other bird names from proper names, compare martin and parrot. Applied to the North American blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) from 1709. Applied to humans in sense of "impertinent chatterer, flashy dresser" from 1620s.

"fourth-rate, worthless" (as in a jay town), 1888, American English, apparently from some disparaging sense of jay (n.). Perhaps from a decaying or ironical use of jay "flashy dresser."

Etymology 1 n. 1 Any one of the numerous species of birds belonging to several genera within the family Corvidae, including ''Garrulus'', ''Cyanocitta'', allied to the crows, but smaller, more graceful in form, often handsomely colored, usually having a crest, and often noisy. 2 Other birds of similar appearance and behavior. 3 (context archaic English) A dull or ignorant person. (non-gloss definition: It survives today in the term jaywalking.) 4 (context slang English) A marijuana cigarette; a joint. Etymology 2

n. (Latn-def en name J j)

Jays are several species of medium-sized, usually colorful and noisy, passerine birds in the crow family, Corvidae. The names jay and magpie are somewhat interchangeable, and the evolutionary relationships are rather complex. For example, the Eurasian magpie seems more closely related to the Eurasian jay than to the Oriental blue and green magpies, whereas the blue jay is not closely related to either.

A jay is a kind of colorful, noisy bird in the crow family.

Jay may also refer to:

Jay is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:

• Allan Jay (born 1931), British world champion épée & foil fencer
• Antoine Jay (1770–1854), French writer
• Antony Jay (born 1930), British writer
• Bill Jay (1940–2009) photographer, magazine and picture editor, etc
• Candee Jay (born 1981), Dutch musician
• Charlotte Jay (1919–1996), Australian writer
• David Jay (born 1982), American activist
• Douglas Jay, Baron Jay (1907–1996), British politician
• Isabel Jay (1879–1927), British opera singer
• Joey Jay (born 1935), American baseball player
• John Jay (1745–1829), American politician and jurist
• John Jay (1817–1894), American lawyer
• Joke Jay, German DJ
• Karla Jay (born 1947), American writer
• Margaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington (born 1939), British politician
• Martin Jay (born 1944), American historian
• Michael Jay, Baron Jay of Ewelme (born 1946), British politician
• Norman Jay, British DJ
• Paul Jay, Canadian film director
• Paul L. Jay (born 1946), American literary theorist
• Peter Augustus Jay (1776–1843), American public servant
• Peter Jay (born 1937), British broadcaster and diplomat
• Pierre Jay (1870–1949), American banker
• Ricky Jay (born 1948), American magician
• Steve Jay (born 1951), American bassist
• Tony Jay (1933–2006), British actor
• Tyler Jay, baseball player
• Vincent Jay (born 1985), French biathlete
• William Jay (minister) (1769–1853), British preacher
• William Jay (jurist) (1789–1858), American jurist
• William Jay (Colonel), American army colonel

Jay is also a transliteration of the Korean surname Chae.

Jay is Taiwanese Mandopop artist Jay Chou's debut Mandarin solo studio album. It was released on 6 November 2000 by Alfa Music and distributed by Sony Music Taiwan with a VCD containing seven music videos.

The tracks "可愛女人" (Adorable Lady) is listed at number 74 on Hit Fm Taiwan's Hit Fm Annual Top 100 Singles Chart (Hit-Fm年度百首單曲) for 2000. and "星晴" (Starry Mood) at number 80 on the same chart for 2001.

The album was awarded one of the Top 10 Selling Mandarin Albums of the Year at the 2001 IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards, presented by the Hong Kong branch of IFPI. It was also nominated for five awards at the 12th Golden Melody Awards in 2001, including Best New Artist for Chou for his work on this album; and won Best Mandarin Album.

Jay is a common given name or nickname. It may be a nickname for James, Jamie, Jacob, Jared, Joaquin, Jeremy, Jeffrey, John, Jonathan, Joseph, Jason, Jordan, Justin, etc. In Hindu cultures, Jay or Jai is a common first name derived from the Sanskrit for "win" or "victory."