Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Toy
Toy
(toi)
, Noun.
[D. ]
tuid
tools, implements, stuff, trash, speeltuig
playthings, toys; akin to G. zeug
stuff, materials, MNG. ziuc
, Icel. tygi
gear; all ultimately from the root of E. tug
, v. t.; cf. G. zeugen
to beget, MHG. ziugen
to beget, make ready, procure. See Tug
, Verb.
T.
1.
A plaything for children; a bawble.
Cowper.
2.
A thing for amusement, but of no real value; an article of trade of little value; a trifle.
They exchange for knives, glasses, and such
toys
, great abundance of gold and pearl. Abr. Abbot.
3.
A wild fancy; an odd conceit; idle sport; folly; trifling opinion.
To fly about playing their wanton
toys
. Spenser.
What if a
toy
take ’em in the heels now, and they all run away. Beau. & Fl.
Nor light and idle
toys
my lines may vainly swell. Drayton.
4.
Amorous dalliance; play; sport; pastime.
Milton.
To dally thus with death is no fit
toy
. Spenser.
5.
An old story; a silly tale.
Shak.
6.
[Probably the same word.]
A headdress of linen or woolen, that hangs down over the shoulders, worn by old women of the lower classes; – called also
toy mutch
. [Scot.]
“Having, moreover, put on her clean toy, rokelay, and scarlet plaid.” Sir W. Scott.
Toy
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
toyed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
toying
.] To dally amorously; to trifle; to play.
To
toy
, to wanton, dally, smile and jest. Shakespeare
Toy
,Verb.
T.
To treat foolishly.
[Obs.]
E. Dering (1576).
Webster 1828 Edition
Toy
TOY
, n.1.
A plaything for children; a bauble.2.
A trifle; a thing for amusement, but of no real value.3.
An article of trade of little value. They exchange gold and pearl for toys.
4.
Matter of no importance. Nor light and idle toys my lines may vainly swell.
5.
Folly; trifling practice; silly opinion.6.
Amorous dalliance; play; sport.7.
An old story; a silly tale.8.
Slight representation; as the toy of novelty.9.
Wild fancy; odd conceit.TOY
,Verb.
I.
TOY
,Verb.
T.
Definition 2024
Toy
toy
toy
English
Noun
toy (plural toys)
- Something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child. [from 16th c.]
- A thing of little importance or value; a trifle. [from 16th c.]
- Abr. Abbot
- They exchange for knives, glasses, and such toys, great abundance of gold and pearl.
- Abr. Abbot
- A simple, light piece of music, written especially for the virginal. [16th-17th c.]
- (obsolete) Love play, amorous dalliance; fondling. [16th-18th c.]
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.i:
- 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.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.i:
- (obsolete) A vague fancy, a ridiculous idea or notion; a whim. [16th-17th c.]
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, vol.1, III.i.2:
- 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 […].
- Spenser
- To fly about playing their wanton toys.
- Beaumont and Fletcher
- What if a toy take 'em in the heels now, and they all run away.
- Drayton
- Nor light and idle toys my lines may vainly swell.
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, vol.1, III.i.2:
- (slang, derogatory) An inferior graffiti artist.
- 2009, Gregory J. Snyder, Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New York's Urban Underground (page 40)
- It is incorrect to say that toys tag and masters piece; toys just do bad tags, bad throw-ups, and bad pieces.
- 2011, Adam Melnyk, Visual Orgasm: The Early Years of Canadian Graffiti (page 45)
- I was a toy until I met Sear, who moved here from Toronto and showed me the book Subway Art.
- 2009, Gregory J. Snyder, Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New York's Urban Underground (page 40)
- (obsolete) An old story; a silly tale.
- Willian Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act V, Scene I
- More strange than true: I never may believe these antique fables, nor these fairy toys.
- Willian Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act V, Scene I
- (Scotland, archaic) A headdress of linen or wool that hangs down over the shoulders, worn by old women of the lower classes; called also toy mutch.
- Sir Walter Scott
- Having, moreover, put on her clean toy, rokelay, and scarlet plaid.
- Sir Walter Scott
Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:toy
Derived terms
Translations
something to play with
|
|
Verb
toy (third-person singular simple present toys, present participle toying, simple past and past participle toyed)
- (intransitive) To play (with).
- to toy with a piece of food on one's plate
- Figo is toying with the English defence.
- (intransitive) To ponder or consider.
- I have been toying with the idea of starting my own business.
- (slang, transitive) To stimulate with a sex toy.
- 2013, Jonathan Everest, Lady Loverly's Chattel
- He could see her hand go to her slit, and soon she was toying herself along, breathing heavily.
- 2013, Jonathan Everest, Lady Loverly's Chattel
Translations
to play with, to mock
to ponder or consider
See also
Faroese
Etymology
From Danish tøj, from Middle Low German tüg.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /tʰɔiː/, /tʰœiː/
Noun
toy n (genitive singular toys, uncountable)
Declension
n3s | Singular | |
Indefinite | Definite | |
Nominative | toy | toyið |
Accusative | toy | toyið |
Dative | toyi | toyinum |
Genitive | toys | toysins |
Middle French
Alternative forms
Pronoun
toy
Synonyms
- (plural or polite singular): vous