WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

joystick
    n 1: a lever used by a pilot to control the ailerons and
         elevators of an airplane [syn: stick, control stick,
         joystick]
    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

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

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 PCs
   have a joystick (game control) port.

   (1995-03-08)