Definition of: Jonah

(jō′nə)
A masculine personal name. Also Jo·nas (jō′nəs; Fr. zhô·näs′, Ger. yō′näs). [<Hebrew, dove]
—Jonah
1. A Hebrew prophet of the eighth or ninth century B.C., who was cast overboard during a tempest sent because he had defied God: he was swallowed by a large fish, lived in its belly for three days, and was vomited up on shore alive.
2. The minor book of the Old Testament named for him and telling his story.
3. Any person or thing regarded as bringing bad luck: in allusion to the bad luck brought upon the sailors of the vessel the prophet traveled on. Jonah i. 13–17. Also Jo·nas (jō′·nəs).