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yay - What does it mean?

Definition of 'yay'

English

Alternative forms

* yea

Etymology 1

Alteration of . More at (l).

Interjection

(en-interj)
  • (colloquial) (yes).
  • (colloquial)
    • Yay! I have finally finished my work!
    Synonyms
    * (an expression of happiness) hooray
    Derived terms
    * yayness

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (chiefly|US) so, this (accompanied by a hand gesture)
    • The pony was yay high.

    Alternative forms

    * yea

    See also

    * nay

    Etymology 2

    : From the sound it represents, by analogy with the other palatal letters chay'' and ''jay .

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • The name of the letter for the y sound in Pitman shorthand.
    • Related terms
    * wye, the name of the Latin letter for this sound

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) llello.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (US|slang) Cocaine.
  • * 2006 , " They Shootin'", Vibe , December 2006:
    • In Billy Corben's engrossing new documentary, Cocaine Cowboys (Magnolia Pictures), self-described "assassin" Jorge "Rivi" Ayala (among others) give up the goods on Miami's explosive early '80s yay trade.
  • * 2009 , Tyrone Pierson, Murder in the Moonlight , AuthorHouse (2009), ISBN 9781438965154, page 339:
    • I'm in charge of a whole city block, and I always wear gloves when I touch the yay , cuz traces of cocaine show up on my u. a., when I touch it with my bare hands.
  • * 2012 , :
    • I don't do yay , but if you want to, fine
    Synonyms
    * See also . English palindromes ----

    Similar to 'yay'

    yy, yey, yawy