Joystick

[joi-stik] /ˈdʒɔɪˌstɪk/

noun
1.
Informal. the of an airplane, tank, or other vehicle.
2.
Computers. a lever resembling this, used to control movement of a cursor or other graphic element for video games and computer graphics.
Compare (def 4), (def 3).
3.
any leverlike switch for controlling, manipulating, guiding, or the like.
/ˈdʒɔɪˌstɪk/
noun
1.
(informal) the control stick of an aircraft or of any of various machines
2.
(computing) a lever by means of which the display on a screen may be controlled used esp for games, flight simulators, etc
n.

also joy stick, 1910, aviators’ slang for the control lever of an airplane, from joy + stick (n.).
hardware, games
A device consisting of a hand held stick that pivots about one end and transmits its angle in two dimensions to a computer. Joysticks are often used to control games, and usually have one or more push-buttons whose state can also be read by the computer. Most I/O interface cards for IBM PCs have a joystick (game control) port.
(1995-03-08)