joey

Meaning

Noun

• The immature young of a marsupial, notably a junior kangaroo, but also a young wallaby, koala, etc.
• The shorter word whose letters can be found within a kangaroo word.
• A parcel smuggled in to an inmate.
• A kind of clown.
• A member of the Royal Marines.
• A person with cerebral palsy.
• A stupid person.
• A fourpenny piece, or its value; fourpence worth.

Origin

• Unknown. Older and more general sources state that joey comes from an Australian aboriginal language, but newer sources that focus on Australian English and aboriginal languages say the origin is unknown. The Australian National Dictionary includes a sense of “young possum” with citations predating the earliest “young kangaroo” citations.
• From Joseph Grimaldi.
• From Joey Deacon, who was the focus of Blue Peter's 1981 charity campaign. The programme was aimed at children, who then picked the term up and used it as an insult.
• Said to have been named after Scottish politican Joseph Hume (1777–1855).