Chances are that you have used the term jaywalker on numerous occasions, but it’s one of those words that just doesn’t make sense, as it never seems to relate to what it is describing. So, you are probably thinking that it stems from the origins of the word, and you would be right.
However, the origins are not going to be what you would expect, as it never involved anybody called Jay.
Instead, the word ‘jay’ used to be the slang word for someone who was seen as being a ‘foolish person, so when an individual was observed ignoring street signs, it seemed logical to combine jay with the word ‘walker.’ Ultimately, that is who it means ‘a foolish walker, so now you can sleep easy and not feel as perplexed when you next use the term.