joe
Preserved but no longer current.
A too marvellous tale, a lie, or a stale joke. Abbreviated from JOE MILLER. The full name is occasionally used, as in the phrase "I don’t see the JOE MILLER of it," i.e., I don’t perceive the wit you intend, or I don’t see the fun of doing it,—whatever may have been the request.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “joe” mean?
A too marvellous tale, a lie, or a stale joke. Abbreviated from JOE MILLER. The full name is occasionally used, as in the phrase "I don’t see the JOE MILLER of it," i.e., I don’t perceive the wit you intend, or I don’t see the fun of doing it,—whatever may have been the request.
Is “joe” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.