Definition of "Jay"

(countable) An English surname transferred from the nickname from Old French jai (“jay (bird)”), a nickname for a chatty or showy person.  examples

A placename

1. A hamlet in Leintwardine parish, Herefordshire, England; named in the c. 13th century for the Jay family, prominent in that area (OS grid ref SO3974).  examples

2. A locale in the United States.

   1. A town in Santa Rosa County, Florida; named for postmaster J. T. Nowling.  examples

   2. A town in Franklin County, Maine; named for American statesman and Founding Father John Jay.  examples

   3. A town in Essex County, New York; named for John Jay.  examples

   4. A city, the county seat of Delaware County, Oklahoma; named for Jay Washburn, nephew of Cherokee leader Stand Watie.  examples

   5. A town on the Canadian border in Orleans County, Vermont; named for John Jay.  examples

   6. A township in Martin County, Minnesota.  examples

   7. A township in Elk County, Pennsylvania.  examples

   8. A former settlement in California.  examples

A diminutive of the male given names James, Jacob, Jack, John, or Jason, or for any other name beginning with ⟨J⟩; also used as a formal given name.  examples

A female given name  quotations  examples

(India) A male given name from Hindi.  examples