jaywalk — to cross a street illegally or in a careless way
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to cross a street illegally or in a careless way
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdʒeɪwɔːk/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother still jaywalks like she owns the entire city.
- He jaywalked right in front of a police car and acted surprised when he got a ticket.
- The campaign aims to reduce accidents caused by jaywalking.
jaywalk
VERB[/ˈdʒeɪwɔːk/]
to cross a street illegally or in a careless way
He jaywalks across six lanes while drivers honk in panic.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Jaywalk emerged in 1910s America as automobiles became widespread. The term combines 'jay,' originally a derogatory expression for rural people unfamiliar with urban traffic rules, with 'walk.' It was coined to describe pedestrians who crossed streets without regard for traffic signals or designated crossings, as if ignorant of modern city conventions.
Breakdown
jay (a foolish or inexperienced person, originally referring to country dwellers unfamiliar with city ways) + walk (to move on foot) = to walk carelessly across streets like an untrained person ignoring traffic rules.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother still jaywalks like she owns the entire city.”
“He jaywalked right in front of a police car and acted surprised when he got a ticket.”
“The campaign aims to reduce accidents caused by jaywalking.”
“She was so busy texting that she jaywalked without even looking up.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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