McCoy

noun

Mc·​Coy mə-ˈkȯi 

Phrases

the real McCoy or less commonly the McCoy

: something or someone that is real or genuine : something or someone that is neither an imitation or a substitute

Even though I knew it was useless I tried tugging at the bars but they were the real McCoy, solid steel.

—Christopher Paul Curtis

These men refused to talk, but their taciturn, disciplined, no-nonsense demeanor indicated that they were the real McCoy.

—Bill Weinberg

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Mackay (in the phrase the real Mackay), of unknown origin

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

McCoy

noun

: something that is neither imitation nor substitute

—often used in the phrase the real McCoy