Meanings
jayhawk1
present singular third person jayhawks · participle present jayhawking · participle past jayhawked · past jayhawked
- ambitransitiveTo steal.
Jayhawk2
- A native or inhabitant of the American state of Kansas.
- Someone associated with the University of Kansas, for example as a student, alum, or sports team member, or as a fan.
Her career as a Jayhawk was marked by many achievements.
Origin
From jayhawker. Re-imagined as a half-bluejay, half-sparrowhawk bird (one is the mascot of the University of Kansas).
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
jayhawk. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jayhawk
“jayhawk.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jayhawk. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “jayhawk,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jayhawk.
Source: jayhawk on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.