Meaning of word "Jaywalker"

[Conchita]

Here’s an interesting word I accidentally bumped into in a dictionary: jaywalker – pedestrian who does not take care when crossing the street (there is also ‘jaywalking’). Its Spanish translation is: an imprudent pedestrian or (much less dull sounding) daredevil/suicidal pedestrian.

I also found these synonyms for 'pedestrian' interesting: ambler, boot jockey, footslogger, gumshoe, hiker. And how about the adjective 'pedestrian' meaning 'heavy/unimaginative': rather pedestrian playing by the orchestra?

Finally and funnily enough the word ‘driver’ is considered the antonym of ‘pedestrian’ (I knew that they can sometimes be antagonists or even represent two different categories of people, but still!).

[Yankee]

Hi Conchita

You're right, "jaywalker" is an funny word. I've heard that this term has its origin in Kansas, but I suspect many New Yorkers would try to claim it as their own. It's illegal to jaywalk in New York City, but this law is hardly ever enforced.

I'm a bit mystified as to why "gumshoe" would be considered a synonym for "pedestrian". For me a "gumshoe" is first and foremost a detective (or possibly also a kind of shoe). The detective could do his "detecting" primarily on foot, but still, I would never dream of saying that "gumshoe" is a synonym for "pedestrian". Where did you find this?

And finally, yes, that is interesting that "driver" should be considered an antonym for "pedestrian"... But I guess in this day and age (particularly in the States) you either walk or you drive. And therefore they're opposites.

Amy

[Jamie (K)]

[Jamie (K)]

I accidentally posted that last one without finishing.

Sometimes you can find foreign dictionaries of American slang that contain nearly no modern words and list almost nothing but expressions that have to have died before the 20th century even started. This is especially true of such dictionaries that were created in Eastern Europe when it was still sealed off by communist governments. They must have been compiled from old novels.

One of my friends was teaching English to professors and graduate students at the University of Leningrad, when it still had that name, and he found the students speaking in a comical way that used too many Latinisms. He tried to teach them to use ordinary phrasal verbs, but they resisted. When he asked them why they weren't cooperating, a student said, in perfect RP, "Why, these verbs are so informal! You could use them perhaps with a strumpet or a brigand!" He usually resists laughing at that stuff, but that time he couldn't.

[Yankee]

[Mister Micawber]

.
Natives of Kansas are nicknamed Jayhawkers, not jaywalkers.

A look through ONE LOOK will give you added information.

Also, you ought to be able to figure out the derivation of gumshoe as a detective from this definition (courtesy of American Heritage Dictionary):

NOUN: 1. A sneaker or rubber overshoe. 2. Slang- An investigator, especially a detective.
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
Slang 1. To work as a detective. 2. To move about stealthily; sneak.

How it got to be just any old pedestrian is just a simple 'step' from there, I think.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[Conchita]

[Yankee]

[Conchita]

[Yankee]

Hi Conchita

"KBG shoes"? Hmmm... clandestinely sneaking around the embassy, were you?

Speaking of 'silent shoes', now that I think about it, even "sneakers" aren't always necessarily "silent". What has just come to mind is the very loud "squeaking" sound that basketball players' shoes often make when they're playing.

Amy

[Jamie (K)]

[Chocolatee]

Hi! Going back to the term "jaywalker", to me the term means a person crossing outside the pedestrian lane or area. I agree with Miss Amy on why "pedestrian" is an antonym of "driver". A "pedestrian" is person who is walking while a "driver" is a person who is driving. It came from the thought that you are either walking or driving.

[Conchita]

[Yankee]

[Yankee]