Dear Joy

English Etymology From the supposed propensity of 17th-century Irishmen to exclaim ‘dear joy’. Noun Dear Joy en obsolete derogatory An Irishman. en 1690 anonymous Teagueland Jeſts, or Bogg-Witticisms part 2, page 135 A Dear Joy in the late King James his Army, being newly Liſted, and Armed with a Match-lock, having never before ſeen any of that Faſhion, was much put to a ſtand, at the rare Phyſiognomy of this ſurprizing Whim-wham: en informal demonyms