toy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a device regarded as providing amusement

   private airplanes are a rich man's toy

2. 2
   noun

   a nonfunctional replica of something else

   The children made an elaborate imaginary meal on their toy stove.

3. 3
   noun

   Something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child.

   A grown man like him does not play with a child’s toy.

4. 4
   noun

   A thing of little importance or value; a trifle.

   tis a pretie toy to be a Poet.

5. 5
   noun

   Ellipsis of toy dog.

   Since standards are large dogs, they grow much more rapidly than miniatures and toys, which means that they require more supplements.

6. 6
   noun

   Love play, amorous dalliance; fondling.

   Then seemed him his Lady by him lay, / And to him playnd, how that false winged boy, / Her chast hart had subdewd, to learne Dame pleasures toy.

7. 7
   noun

   A vague fancy, a ridiculous idea or notion; a whim.

   Though they do talk with you, and seem to be otherwise employed, and to your thinking very intent and busy, still that toy runs in their mind, that fear, that suspicion, that abuse, that jealousy […].

8. 8
   noun

   An old story; a silly tale.

   More strange than true: I never may believe these antique fables, nor these fairy toys.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English toye (“amorous play, piece of fun or entertainment”), probably from Middle Dutch toy, tuyg (“tools, apparatus, utensil, ornament”) as in Dutch speel-tuig (“plaything, toy”), from Old Dutch *tiug, from Proto-West Germanic *tiugī̆, *teug, from Proto-Germanic *teugą (“stuff, matter, device, gear, lever”, literally “that which is drawn or pulled”), from Proto-Germanic *teuhaną (“to lead, bring, pull”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to pull, lead”). Cognate with Dutch tuig (“thing”), German Zeug (“stuff”), Danish tøj (“stuff”), Icelandic tygi, Norwegian tøy (“equip…