toy

Etymology

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 (“play-thing, toy”), from Old Dutch *tiug, 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 German Zeug (“stuff”), Danish tøj (“stuff”). Related to tug, tow.

noun

1. Something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child.
   A grown man does not play with a child’s toy.
2. A thing of little importance or value; a trifle.
3. A simple, light piece of music, written especially for the virginal.
4. Short for toy dog.
   Since standards are large dogs, they grow much more rapidly than miniatures and toys, which means that they require more supplements. 1968, Jeff Griffen, The Poodle Book, page 36
5. (obsolete) Love play, amorous dalliance; fondling.
6. (obsolete) A vague fancy, a ridiculous idea or notion; a whim.
   Though they do talk with you, and seem to be otherwise employed, and to your thinking very intent and busy, still that toy runs in their mind, that fear, that suspicion, that abuse, that jealousy […]. , vol.1, III.i.2
7. (slang, derogatory) An inferior graffiti artist.
   It is incorrect to say that toys tag and masters piece; toys just do bad tags, bad throw-ups, and bad pieces. 2009, Gregory J. Snyder, Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New York's Urban Underground, page 40
   I was a toy until I met Sear, who moved here from Toronto and showed me the book Subway Art. 2011, Adam Melnyk, Visual Orgasm: The Early Years of Canadian Graffiti, page 45
   DAVE COLUMBO (played by Gabriel Bisset-Smith): So, Rave, you’re a graffiti artist. RAVE: Writer. Graffiti writer. There’s a difference. DAVE COLUMBO: What do you make of “I Came By”(the practice of robbing rich people’s houses and tagging them with the words “I came by”)? RAVE: I think whoever done it is a fucking toy. I heard it’s not the same crew anymore. 2022-08-31, Babak Anvari, Namsi Khan, 15:22 from the start, in Babak Anvari, director, I Came By (film), spoken by Rave (Sean Rey)
8. (obsolete) An old story; a silly tale.
9. (Scotland, archaic) A headdress of linen or wool that hangs down over the shoulders, worn by old women of the lower classes; called also toy mutch.
10. A sex toy (object or device to give sexual pleasure).
11. (slang, MLE) A gun.
    RONNIE: Now, that is a SIG Sauer P226. JIMMY VICKERS (played by Danny Dyer): Yeah, takes 19 in the clip. It’s effective up to 50 metres. RONNIE: Man knows his toys. 2013-12-23, Stephen Reynolds, 48:02 from the start, in Stephen Reynolds, director, Vendetta (film), spoken by Ronnie (Nick Nevern)

verb

1. (intransitive) To play (with) in an idle or desultory way.
   to toy with a piece of food on one’s plate
   Figo is toying with the English defence.
2. (intransitive) To ponder or consider.
   I have been toying with the idea of starting my own business.
3. (slang, transitive) To stimulate with a sex toy.
   He could see her hand go to her slit, and soon she was toying herself along, breathing heavily. 2013, Jonathan Everest, Lady Loverly's Chattel