joint

Meanings

Adjective

• Done by two or more people or organisations working together.

Noun

• The point where two components of a structure join, but are still able to rotate.
• The point where two components of a structure join rigidly.
• Any part of the body where two bones join, in most cases allowing that part of the body to be bent or straightened.
• The means of securing together the meeting surfaces of components of a structure.
• A cut of meat.
• The part or space included between two joints, knots, nodes, or articulations.
• A fracture in which the strata are not offset; a geologic joint.
• A place of business, particularly in the food service or hospitality industries.
• Prison.
• A marijuana cigarette.
• A syringe used to inject an illicit drug.
• The penis.

Verb

• To unite by a joint or joints; to fit together; to prepare so as to fit together
• To join; to connect; to unite; to combine.
• To provide with a joint or joints; to articulate.
• To separate the joints; of; to divide at the joint or joints; to disjoint; to cut up into joints, as meat.
• To fit as if by joints; to coalesce as joints do.

Origin

• The noun is from Middle English joynt (attested since the late 13th century), from Old French joint (attested since the 12th century). The adjective (attested since the 15th century) is from Old French jointiz. Both Old French words are from Latin iūnctus, the past participle of iungō. See also join, jugular.
• The meaning of "building, establishment", especially in connection with shady activities, appeared in Anglo-Irish by 1821 and entered general American English slang by 1877, especially in the sense of "opium den". The sense "marijuana cigarette" is attested since 1935.