joey

¹

[ joh-ee ]

noun

, Australian.

, plural jo·eys.

1. any young animal, especially a kangaroo.
2. a young child.

Joey

²

[ joh-ee ]

noun

, plural Jo·eys.

1. a clown, especially in the circus or pantomime and puppet theater.

joey

³

[ joh-ee ]

noun

, British Slang.

, plural jo·eys.

1. a threepenny piece.
2. (formerly) a fourpenny piece.

Joey

⁴

[ joh-ee ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Joe or Joseph.

joey

/ ˈdʒəʊɪ /

noun

1. a young kangaroo or possum
2. a young animal or child

Word History and Origins

Origin of joey¹

First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain

Origin of joey²

1895–1900; diminutive of Joseph, after Joseph Grimaldi

Origin of joey³

First recorded in 1860–65; named after Joseph Hume (1777–1855), English politician who favored the coinage of the fourpenny piece

Word History and Origins

Origin of joey¹

C19: from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

Even as joeys, he found, individual kangaroos seemed to have distinct personalities.

From Science Magazine

Ramaswamy is so close to the former president that he’s like the joey in the pouch to Trump’s kangaroo.

From Seattle Times

Edwardsville law enforcement and animal control from nearby Bonner Springs responded to calls about the unusual highway sight of a joey, which some mistook for a wallaby.

From Washington Times

Since then, the joey has been developing and growing inside Maya’s pouch, the zoo said.

From Los Angeles Times

The organization highlights that joeys are taken out of pouches and fatally hit in the head after their mothers are shot, which is the government-mandated practice seen as most humane.

From Washington Post