joystick

noun

joy·​stick ˈjȯi-ˌstik 

1

: a lever in an airplane that operates the elevators by a fore-and-aft motion and the ailerons by a side-to-side motion

2

: a control for any of various devices (such as a computer) that resembles an airplane's joystick especially in being capable of motion in two or more directions

Examples of joystick in a Sentence

This game works with either a mouse or joystick.

Recent Examples on the Web

Beyond the intuitive joystick, the Blackfly’s secret sauce is its fly-by-wire controls. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2024

The kit replaces your controller’s existing PCB with a drop-in board that has Hall effects joysticks and a USB-C-rechargeable 300mAh battery attached. —Wes Davis, The Verge, 14 Sep. 2024

They’re then combined with a separate eye-tracking camera, which uses her eye and head movement to simulate mouse or joystick positioning. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2024

Pac-Man is elegant and accessible, requiring only a joystick and fast reactions. —Simon Hill, WIRED, 22 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from English slang joystick penis

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

joystick

noun

joy·​stick -ˌstik 

: a control lever for a device (as a computer display or an airplane) that allows motion in two or more directions