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Added 7 October 2026

toy

/tɔɪ/ symbol

In Latin: lūdibrium, crepundia Wiktionary

symbol Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about toy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

ISO 639-3 language code for Topoiyo.

noun

Something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
A grown man like him does not play with a child’s toy.
A thing of little importance or value; a trifle.
A simple, light piece of music, written especially for the virginal.

verb

To play (with) in an idle or desultory way.
to toy with a piece of food on one’s plate
To interact or engage in conflict (with a person) in a manipulative and/or unserious way.
Figo is toying with the English defence.
To ponder or consider.
I have been toying with the idea of starting my own business.

adjective

Impractical or unsuitable for real-world use, due to being unrealistically small or simple.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English toye (“amorous play, piece of fun or entertainment”), probably from Middle Dutch toy, tuyg (“tools, apparatus, utensil, ornament”) as in Dutch speel-tuig (“plaything, toy”), from Old Dutch *tiug, from Proto-West Germanic *tiugī̆, *teug, from Proto-Germanic *teugą (“stuff, matter, device, gear, lever”, literally “that which is drawn or pulled”), from Proto-Germanic *teuhaną (“to lead, bring, pull”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to pull, lead”). Cognate with Dutch tuig (“thing”), German Zeug (“stuff”), Danish tøj (“stuff”), Icelandic tygi, Norwegian tøy (“equipment, riggings, stuff”), Swedish tyg (“cloth, textile, fabric”). Related to tug, tow, taw, tew.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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