Why is dodging the traffic called "jay walking"??

Question

I know it means crossing anywhere but at designated crossings!!!.....don't be too pedantic!!...but why "Jay"??.....not chicken or duck

Answer 1

Jaywalking is a term used to describe when a pedestrian crosses the street without regard to traffic statutes. In common use, the term generally refers to someone crossing a major street outside of a designated crosswalk or intersection, in jurisdictions where this is illegal.
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in this context, jay is used in the obsolete slang sense, referring to a stupid or dull person, or a rube, i.e. someone from a rural area and not familiar with "city ways". At the time, vehicles and traffic signals were a new concept, gaining popularity in the larger cities, so this term would have been used to describe newcomers who were unfamiliar with these recent developments and by extension, to ridicule people who behaved like newcomers but should have known better.
Quoted from: see below.

Answer 2

The word jaywalker is able to be traced back to 1917, though it may have been in use as early as 1900. It is generally considered to have originated in the United States, possibly from the city of (Quote)Boston. It is a compound word of the words jay and walk; in this context, jay is used in the obsolete slang sense, referring to a stupid or dull person, or a rube, i.e. someone from a rural area and not familiar with "city ways". At the time, vehicles and traffic signals were a new concept, gaining popularity in the larger cities, so this term would have been used to describe newcomers who were unfamiliar with these recent developments and by extension, to ridicule people who behaved like newcomers but should have known better.(End Quote)

Answer 3

Jay Walking is a by-law referring to when people cross the road without proper regard for approaching traffic. Dodging the traffic is called senseless.

Answer 4

Dodging traffic is NOT called Jay Walking, J walking is when you cross the road but not going in a straight line shortest possible across the road but at an angle.

Answer 5

I don't believe jay walking means dodging traffic. It usually refers to when people cross a street in the middle or any place other than the crosswalk.

Answer 6

Because dodging traffic resembles tha path of a jaybird walking.

Answer 7

to wear a pair of air jordan sneakers.

bruce - hold up man! did you see that boy jay walkin?
larry - already
bruce - man trippin in his old school, got the jays all touched up. lookin clean
larry - yeah man.

Answer 8

My name is Jay and I find that statement offensive. HAHAHA! :=)