Toy , v. t. To treat foolishly.
[Obs.]
E. Dering (1576).
Toy , v. i. [imp. & p. p. toyed (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
toying.]
To dally
amorously; to trifle; to play.
To
toy, to wanton, dally, smile and jest.
Shak.
Toy (toi), n. [D. tuid tools, implements, stuff, trash, speeltuig
playthings, toys; akin to G. zeug stuff, materials,
MNG. ziuc, Icel. tygi gear; all ultimately from the root
of E. tug, v. t.; cf.
G. zeugen to beget, MHG. ziugen to beget, make ready, procure. See Tug, v. t.]
1. A plaything for children; a bawble. Cowper.
2.
A thing for amusement, but of no real value; an article of
trade of little value; a trifle.
They exchange for knives, glasses, and such toys, great abundance of gold and pearl.
Abr. Abbot. 3. A wild fancy;
an odd conceit; idle sport; folly; trifling opinion.
To fly about playing their wanton
toys.
Spenser. What if a toy take'em
in the heels now, and they
all run away.
Beau.
&Fl. Nor light and idle toys my lines may vainly swell.
Drayton.
4. Amorous dalliance; play; sport; pastime.
Milton.
To dally thus with death is
no fit toy.
Spenser.
5. An old
story; a silly tale.
Shak.
6. [Probably
the same word.] A headdress of linen or woolen, that hangs down over the
shoulders, worn by old women of
the lower classes; -- called also toy mutch. [Scot.] "Having, moreover, put on her clean toy, rokelay, and scarlet plaid." Sir W. Scott.
Hear it pronounced