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jay

B2 Topic:Animals
US /ˈd͡ʒeɪ/ UK /dʒeɪ/
Freq #2909

Meanings

  1. 1
  2. 2
    noun

    any of several large, colorful swallowtail butterflies in the genus Graphium

    The butterfly guide identified the green-spotted insect as a jay.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a noisy, often brightly... jaybird
Word family
Forms jays
Derived forms jaylike
Related forms corvidcrowmagpieravenblue jay

Etymology

From Middle English jay, from Old French jai, now geai. Its earlier source is uncertain: it may continue Late Latin gaius 'jay' or be connected with Old French gai 'bright, merry,' possibly referring to the bird's lively behavior or plumage.

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