Source : WordNet®

joystick
     n 1: a lever used by a pilot to control the ailerons and
          elevators of an airplane [syn: {stick}, {control stick}]
     2: a manual control consisting of a vertical handle that can
        move freely in two directions; used as an input device to
        computers or to devices controlled by computers

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

joystick
     
         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 PC}s
        have a joystick (game control) port.
     
        (1995-03-08)