josh English · revision 5807

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=1845}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /dʒɒʃ/, US /dʒɑːʃ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is unknown.^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) It is American, first written Josh, and Barnhart and Etymonline suggest that it comes from Josh, the familiar form of Joshua, perhaps as a typical name of an old farmer, though the link is obscure.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Collins suggests instead [[joke]], influenced by [[bosh]].^(Collins 2023) The 19th-century idea that it came from Josh Billings, the pen name of the humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw, fails on dates: Shaw's work became widely known only from 1860, after josh was in common use,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) although Etymonline allows that his popularity may have spread the word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To banter or joke, intransitive: 1845 in the OED, Barnhart, Etymonline and MWU.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To make fun of or tease someone is from 1852.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''Josher'' and ''joshing'' are from 1864,^(OED 1989) and the noun, a good-natured joke, from 1878.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) The SOED labels it slang.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1845 – to banter.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1852 – to tease someone.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1864 – ''josher'', ''joshing''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1878 – the noun.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(informal)'' To [[tease]] someone in a friendly way.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To exchange good-humoured jokes; to [[banter]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' A teasing [[joke]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[josher]]

+ * [[joshingly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[joke]]

+ * [[bosh]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In east Suffolk dialect, a josh was an old cow.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}