McCoy

UK: /məˈkɔɪ/ US: /məˈkɔɪ/ ,(mə koi′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

Mc•Coy /məˈkɔɪ/   n. [countable] , pl.McCoys.

1. the real thing or person as promised or stated (usually used in the phrase the real McCoy):
   That wasn't an imitation; it was the real McCoy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Mc•Coy  (mə koi′), n. 

1. the genuine thing or person as promised, stated, or implied (usually prec. by the or the real):
   Those other paintings are copies, but this one is the McCoy.

• 1880–85; also Mackay, McKie, the clear McCoy (of liquor); of uncertain origin, originally; hypothesized identifications with Mackay, a Scottish clan, and Kid McCoy, nickname of U.south, southern. boxer Norman Selby (1873–1940), are unsubstantiated

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

McCoy / məˈkɔɪ/ noun

1. the genuine person or thing (esp in the phrase the real McCoy)

Etymology: 20th Century: perhaps after Kid McCoy, professional name of Norman Selby (1873–1940), American boxer, who was called "the real McCoy" to distinguish him from another boxer of that name

McCoy / məˈkɔɪ/ noun

1. Sir Tony, full name Anthony Peter McCoy. born 1974, Northern Irish national hunt jockey: champion jockey every season from 1995–96 to 2014–15 during which he rode a record 4348 winners