Joe

name

Etymology: Short form (diminutive form) of various names beginning with Jo..., particularly the male names Joseph and, less often, Joel, Josiah and Josias. The spelling Jo is used more often for diminutives of similar female names.

1. A diminutive of the male given names Joseph, Josiah, Joel, or Josias.

   “"With a name like Joe," Joe always said, "I had to open a bar and grill, just so I could put up a sign saying 'Joe's Bar and Grill'."”

   “With Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ decision to end his campaign on Wednesday, it’s now official: Former Vice President Joe Biden will be the Democratic presidential nominee this fall.”

2. Alternative form of Jo: a diminutive of various female given names.
3. A surname.

noun

1. Alternative form of jo (“a darling or sweetheart”).

   “1836 Joanna Baillie The Phantom, Act 2. Provost, to a maidservant. I fear, my joe, the good that I can do him, Or ev'n the minister, if he were here, Would be but little.”

   “My tantie Kate sits at her wheel, / And sair she lightlies me; / But weel ken I it's a' envy, / For ne'er a joe has she.”