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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

josh en · NOUN

Etymology

Disputed origin, first attested in the mid-19th century. The earliest example is capitalized, therefore is likely derived from the proper name Joshua.

Meanings

  1. An instance of good-natured banter.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
joshes Number=Plur lexicographic

josh en · VERB

Etymology

Disputed origin, first attested in the mid-19th century. The earliest example is capitalized, therefore is likely derived from the proper name Joshua.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To tease someone in a kindly or friendly fashion.
    • "My dear Polly. I welcome criticism, but this is mere——" Lady Wetherby stroked his coat sleeve fondly. "Never mind, Algie, I was only joshing you, precious.[…]" 1915, Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, Uneasy Money, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton and Company, published 17 March 1916, →OCLC, page 171:
  2. (intransitive) To make or exchange good-natured jokes.
    • “Cut that joshing out,” she said, coolly and briskly. “Who do you think you are talking to? Your check, please. Oh, Lordy!—” 1910, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “The Girl and the Habit”, in Strictly Business: More Stories of the Four Million, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC:
    • Boris, it seems, is taking it in this spirit, joshing beneath his ever-redeeming barnet that Labour's opposition to military action in Syria is a fey stance that he, as GQ politician of the year, would never be guilty of. 2013 September 13, Russell Brand, “Russell Brand and the GQ awards”, in The Guardian:
    • We are old friends, did I not tell you? So I may, what you Americans call, josh with him. 1902, Jack London, chapter XIV, in A Daughter of the Snows:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
joshing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
joshed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
joshed Tense=Past lexicographic
joshes Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Deriveds

joshingly · josher

Relateds

rogan josh

Translations (6)

ru подшучивать ((transitive) To tease someone in a kindly fashion) · bg шегувам се ((transitive) To tease someone in a kindly fashion) · bg майтапя се ((transitive) To tease someone in a kindly fashion) · ka წახუმრება ((transitive) To tease someone in a kindly fashion) · ka გახუმრება ((transitive) To tease someone in a kindly fashion) · ru разы́грывать ((transitive) To tease someone in a kindly fashion)