ENGLISH
REFERENCE

joanna

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dʒoʊˈænə// joan·na Archaic Slang

n. a piano. This is a playful way to name the instrument using a style of rhyming slang from London.

n. a piano. Derived from Cockney rhyming slang where 'Joanna' rhymes with 'pianner' (a colloquial pronunciation of piano).


SIMPLE

He sat down at the joanna and played a song.

CONTEXTUAL

The pub was quiet until someone started banging out old tunes on the joanna in the corner.

COMPLEX

While the club usually hosts electronic acts, they kept an old upright joanna on stage for the occasional jazz pianist who preferred the tactile response of hammers and strings.

Origin

From Latin Joanna, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān) which produced John and its many doublets. Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena.

Usage

Typically used with the definite article 'the'.

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