jay

Everyday

1. A jay is a noisy, colourful bird of the crow family; the Eurasian jay is pinkish brown with bright blue wing patches, and the blue jay of North America is blue and white. tree →
2. «Jay» is how we say and sometimes write the letter J. tree →
3. Jay is also a name (a name). tree →
4. Jay can also be an insult for a silly, foolish person. tree →

In the lessons

In nature lessons jays are famous for burying acorns to eat in winter; the forgotten ones grow into oak trees, so jays help plant forests. Their loud screech warns other animals of danger. In North America, the blue jay is a common garden bird. Phrases: «blue jay», «a jay's screech».

Examples

• A jay buried acorns all over the park. tree →
• The jay screeched loudly when the cat came near. tree →
• Blue jays visited our bird feeder in Toronto. tree →
• Jays are clever members of the crow family. tree →
• Forgotten acorns hidden by jays grow into new oak trees. tree →
• «Jay» is the name of the letter J. tree →
• My cousin Jay plays the drums. tree →
• “You dunderheaded little jay!” she screamed, “Why don’t you do as I tell you?” tree →

Note

Plural «jays». Capital J for the name. Trap: in old American slang «jaywalk» means to cross the road carelessly away from a crossing; that word came from «jay» meaning a silly country person.