Johnn.

Brit.

/dʒɒn/, U.S.

/dʒɑn/

Forms: Middle English Johan, Middle English–1500s Iohan, Middle English–1600s Iohn, Middle English– John, 1500s Ihon, 1500s Iohne (chiefly Scottish).

Origin: From a proper name. Etymon: proper name John.

Etymology: < the male forename John < Old French, Middle French Johan (rare), variant of Jehan, Middle French Jan, Middle French, French Jean < post-classical Latin Joannes (later Johannes) < Hellenistic Greek Ἰωάννης < Hebrew Yōḥānān, variant of Yĕhōḥānān, lit. ‘God is gracious’.John is a male forename, that of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist as well as of a number of other important figures in the history of the Christian Church. It has been frequent as a male forename in England since early Middle English times, and has been extremely common since the middle of the 13th century. Owing to the frequency of the personal name, it has also frequently been used as a generic term for any male (compare similar use of the equivalent names in various other languages, as e.g. Dutch Jan ), especially one of low social station or (in Middle English) a priest (compare Sir John n.); most other uses in English ultimately reflect such generic use. In sense 3 probably largely a shortening of johndarm n., although probably merging with other generic uses (compare use in quot. a1637 at sense 2a). John Hop n. at Compounds 1a may reflect a later rationalization of this use as rhyming slang. With sense 7 compare earlier cuz-john n., Sir John n. 2. For a selection of examples of use of the personal name (including as the name of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist) down to the 16th century compare the following (in Old English the Latin form Iohannes is usual):OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) i. 6 Mann wæs fram Gode asend, þæs nama wæs Iohannes [c1200 Hatton Iohannes].lOE Manumission, Exeter (Exeter 3501) in C. Fox & B. Dickins Early Cultures North-west Europe (1950) 366 And ðis is seo gewitnisse, Iohan alurices sune,..Huberd Randolf cotes sune, Osbern Hod Pilegrim Ialebriht Gesfrei se coc, [etc.].c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 714 Sannt iohan bapptisste comm Biforenn cristess come.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 127 He is þet soðe lomb alswa Sancte Iohan þe baptist cweð.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 131 Sancte iohannes baptiste, þe ure drihten ber iwitnesse.?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 84 He isech his leoue moder & seint Iohan þe ewangeliste & þe oðere maries.a1300 Passion our Lord 223 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 43 Ion hedde enne mantel of cendal hym abute.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 9924 Richard..ȝef is broþer Ion [rhyme anon] Þe erldom of gloucestre.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. v. l. 415 Al þat euere Marke made Mathew, John, [c1400 C text Iohan] & lucas.a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 325 On Seint Jhones Day.1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 3rd Serm. sig. Evii^v Some saye, you are Iohan Baptiste.Middle English Johan was apparently originally disyllabic, with stress on the first syllable. The reduction to Jon does not appear to be paralleled in French (or Dutch). Spellings with hn probably reflect the perceived authority of the Latin form Iohannes (Middle English spellings of the forename with initial Jh probably show a different origin, being intended to supply a less ambiguous spelling for the affricate /dʒ/).

The male forename John, since the 13th cent. one of the commonest in England (and subsequently the English-speaking world), hence applied in a wide range of general and specific contexts. Cf. Jack n.², Joe n.², and Johnny n., the latter two of which are now more common than John in similar transferred contexts.

I. Uses of the simple personal name to refer to people.

a. (A generic name for) a man, esp. an ordinary man, a fellow, a chap. Now somewhat rare.

ΚΠ

1392 in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. (1900) 15 116 (MED) But hethyng wil we suffre non, Neither of hobbe ne of Johan.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. vii. l. 44 (MED) Ac many a iustice an iuroure wolde for Iohan do more Þan pro dei pietate.

a1601 Nashe's Choise of Valentines (1899) 4 Where to, the contrie franklins flock-meale swarme, And Jhon and Jone come marching arme in arme.

1691 R. Baxter Against Revolt to Foreign Jurisdict. ii. i. 422 We have Communion with all Christians in Abassia, Armenia, and all the Earth..: But if John or Joan here commit Adultery, and be excommunicated as impenitent, we are not bound to send Messengers to the Antipodes.

1770 Cheats of London Exposed 88 Plain John is liable to be deluded by the pomp of a train, or a glare of a necklace.

1789 World (London) 20 June One honest John, who passed by, remarked—‘To be sure it was over with the Opera.’

1888 Weekly Inter Ocean (Chicago) 11 Dec. 10/4 Some Johns have a penchant for delicate bread, And some for a mealy potato.

1906 H. Green At Actors' Boarding House 125 Want to be careful of those Johns on the other side. They're not like we are.

1984 W. Gibson Neuromancer (1989) ii. iii. 51 Besides, you're a clever john, no? You can winkle him, sure.

†b. every man John: every single person; every single one of a specified group. Cf. every man jack n. at man n.¹ 21. Obsolete.

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1763 London Evening-post 6 Jan. All those Auctioneers who sell in the liberties of the city without being sworn, are, every Man John of them, liable to the penalty of 25 l. for every lot they sell.

1780 ‘Harum Skarum’ Acct. Deb. Coachmaker's Hall 20 They have been sworn at Highgate every man John of 'em.

1832 T. Creevey in H. Maxwell Creevey Papers (1903) II. 245 Dead as mutton, every man John of us!

1838 P. Hawker Diary (1893) II. 141 I knocked down 16 geese and sacked ‘every man John’ of them.

1887 World (N.Y.) 17 May 3/1 Every man John of them made hits off his delivery and really convinced him that right here in New York is a team that knows how to bat.

1914 Hamilton (Ohio) Evening Jrnl. 2 Apr. 7/1 Herzog..has every man John swearing by him, where in former years every man was swearing at the manager.

1922 Med. Standard June 10/1 On the absentee's return, every man John of his patients will come right back to him.

c. British colloquial. As a general form of address for any man.

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the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > familiar form of address

mon amic1425

matec1500

boy1532

old lad1594

old boy1602

captaina1616

mon cher1673

old chap1823

old man1828

ou maat1838

boysie1846

old top1856

boetie1867

bra1869

cocker1888

mon vieux1888

face1891

yessir1892

George1903

old sport1905

old bean1917

segotia1917

babe1918

bro1918

tovarish1918

old egg1919

midear1921

old (tin of) fruit1923

sport1923

mush1936

cowboy1961

coz1961

wack1963

yaar1963

John1982

1982 A. Sayle (title of song) 'Ullo John! Gotta new motor?

1994 J. Kelman How Late it Was 213 Ye're standing have a quiet pint and some cunt wants to get past ye and he says, Excuse me a minute john, then he takes out the stanley and rips the face of the guy standing next to ye.

2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe St xii. 114 Say no more John.

a. (A generic name for, or form of address to) a servant, or other person considered to be of inferior rank, as a military cadet, new recruit, etc. Now rare.

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society > law > law enforcement > law-enforcement or peace-officer > [noun] > constable

sub-constable1512

beagle1559

harman-beck1567

John?1576

clarigold1597

officer1597

constable1600

redbeard1607

Robin Hoga1682

Moabite1699

night-magistrate1699

society > authority > subjection > service > servant > [noun] > man or boy

knightc950

knapec1000

shalkOE

knaveOE

sergeantc1200

swainc1275

groom1297

garcion13..

ladc1300

harlota1350

serving-mana1400

manservant1409

varlet1483

handman1496

custrelinga1556

Sim Shakebuckler?1560

lackey-boy1575

vadelect1586

muchacho1591

round robin1591

varlettoa1616

vadelet1661

gossoon1684

skip1699

mozo1811

Jack1836

tea-boy1847

John1848

?1576 A. Hall Let. touchyng Priuate Quarell sig. f. iv If you serue the Princes turne, hee findes no fault: if you broke for the Lordes, they haue no losse, but they will take you still for a Iohn, if agaynste your trust you be wonne.

a1637 B. Jonson Tale of Tub iv. (Sc. Int.) 57 in Wks. (1640) III All Constables are truly Iohn's for the King, What ere their names are; be they Tony, or Roger .

1700 in H. Playford Wit & Mirth II. 221 This Footman swore he was a Lord... But when she heard one call out John, Up rose her Spark, and strait was gone.

1726 Four Years Voy. Capt. G. Roberts 33 All the rest of the Johns that were standing by, in a seeming friendly Manner, told me, that it would be much better for me, to make a full and true Discovery of every Thing.

1797 Sporting Mag. Apr. 60/2 The Servant lets him in, with dismal face... John's countenance as rueful looked, and grim.

1848 W. M. Thackeray Bk. Snobs ii. 10 Suddenly..her Majesty's own crimson footmen, with epaulets and black plushes, came in. It was pitiable to see the other poor Johns slink off at this arrival!

1883 J. P. Groves From Cadet to Captain ii. 15 My ignorance of the manners and customs of Sandhurst cadets prevented my knowing that ‘John’ was a generic title applied to all first-termers.

1906 H. Cornell Kenelm's Desire 3 She's always had a ‘John’ of some description in her kitchen.

1918 Baltimore News 24 Oct. You know they call a man who has seen no service a ‘John’. Well, I am not a ‘John’ any more.

1934 Our Army Dec. 25 Get under cover, you big Johns.

1968 J. Lelyveld in E. Cole & T. Flaherty House of Bondage 15 A large proportion of whites don't trouble themselves to call their servants by their own names. Sometimes they use a common name like John whether it belongs to the man or not.

b. Used as a general form of address to a person of a different ethnic or national background whose name is not known or not considered important. Now somewhat rare and usually considered offensive.

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1818 B. Hall Acct. Voy. Corea ii. 92 This [Chinese] interpreter is called ‘John’ by all the parties.

1894 E. Glanville Fair Colonist x. 76 ‘What is your name, John?’—all black men being Johns when they are not Boys.

1912 D. Lowrie My Life in Prison 26 The Chinaman was much elated at the way I took it... ‘How long have you been here, John?’ I inquired.

1923 H. W. Wheeler Frontier Trail xxxvi. 182 After a while, Amzi called out, ‘Oh, John’. (It was customary for Indians to call all white men ‘John’.).

1954 G. Lamming Emigrants i. 111 ‘'Ave 'alf pint o' bitter John?’ ‘My name aint John.’

1993 B. Red Hat in R. Schukies Red Hat 68 My dad would say to the white man: ‘Hey John!’.. We thought everybody is named John.

c. Chiefly North American regional (western), Australian, and New Zealand. Usually depreciative (now offensive). A Chinese person, esp. a man; (also occasionally) Chinese people regarded collectively. Cf. John Chinaman n. at Compounds 1a. Now rare (chiefly historical) and usually considered offensive.Cf. quot. 1818 at sense 2b.

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the world > people > nations > native or inhabitant of Asia > the Chinese > [noun] > native or inhabitant of China

Cathayan?1520

Chinean1577

Son of Heaven1579

Chino1588

chinois1594

Chinese1606

Chinesianc1615

Chinaman1621

China1638

Chinist1654

Chinensian1655

pigtail1823

celestial1842

Johnny1844

coolie1849

John1853

Chinky1871

chow1872

Chink1880

monk1903

Pong1910

power point1986

1853 Alta California (San Francisco) 20 Apr. 2/2 The Mary Adams brought 118 ‘Johns’ from the terrestrial kingdom of heaven.

1859 Victoria (Brit. Columbia) Gaz. 22 Oct. in D. C. Lai Chinatowns (1988) 16 Two of the Johns intended ‘returning in the spring’, bringing their families of female Johns and demi-Johns with them.

1873 J. H. Beadle Undevel. West xvii. 314 Then come the apologists and claim for ‘John’ a score of virtues which he does not possess.

1903 Truth (Sydney) 4 Jan. 7/3 The lynx-eyed ‘Johns’ are engaged..while ‘yours truly’ and his fellows are ‘padding the hoof’.

1921 R. Watson Spoilers of Valley 310 John always was a better truck farmer anyway.

1948 P. Johnston Lost & Living Cities Calif. Gold Rush 11/1 The despised ‘Johns’ were permitted to pan gold in peace, provided they paid their foreign miners' tax when it was due.

1959 P. A. Lawlor Old Wellington Days 84 They were fierce competitors of ‘The Chows’ or ‘The Johns’ as the Chinese fruiterers were called.

3. Chiefly Australian, New Zealand, and U.S. A police officer or military police officer (esp. a male). Occasionally spec.: a detective. Cf. John Hop n., John Law n. at Compounds 1a, and johndarm n.Compare discussion in etymology section.

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society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman

truncheon officer1708

runner1735

horny1753

nibbing-cull1775

nabbing-cull1780

police officer1784

police constable1787

policeman1788

scout1789

nabman1792

nabber1795

pig1811

Bow-street officer1812

nab1813

peeler1816

split1819

grunter1823

robin redbreast1824

bulky1828

raw (or unboiled) lobster1829

Johnny Darm1830

polis1833

crusher1835

constable1839

police1839

agent1841

johndarm1843

blue boy1844

bobby1844

bluebottle1845

copper1846

blue1848

polisman1850

blue coat1851

Johnny1851

PC1851

spot1851

Jack1854

truncheonist1854

fly1857

greycoat1857

cop1859

Cossack1859

slop1859

scuffer1860

nailerc1863

worm1864

Robert1870

reeler1879

minion of the law1882

ginger pop1887

rozzer1888

nark1890

bull1893

grasshopper1893

truncheon-bearer1896

John1898

finger1899

flatty1899

mug1903

John Dunn1904

John Hop1905

gendarme1906

Johnny Hop1908

pavement pounder1908

buttons1911

flat-foot1913

pounder1919

Hop1923

bogy1925

shamus1925

heat1928

fuzz1929

law1929

narker1932

roach1932

jonnop1938

grass1939

roller1940

Babylon1943

walloper1945

cozzer1950

Old Bill1958

cowboy1959

monaych1961

cozzpot1962

policeperson1965

woolly1965

Fed1966

wolly1970

plod1971

roz1971

Smokey Bear1974

bear1975

beast1978

woodentop1981

Five-O1983

dibble1990

Bow-street runner-

1898 Worker (Sydney) 8 Jan. 8/2 There was not a sign when the ‘Johns’, as the police are called in that neighbourhood, passed along.

1901 Westm. Gaz. 18 Sept. 8/2 ‘George Johns are sure to visit the old girl to see if anyone has got to her... Brake the cab then shift it again as the John will be sure to tell the porter of that.’.. Detective-sergeant Stevens said the word ‘Johns’ on the paper signified ‘detectives’.

1918 Chrons. N.Z.E.F. 22 Nov. 206 ‘Never mind about that,’ said the John—and dumped him in the cell.

1940 R. Chandler Farewell, my Lovely xxxix. 302 ‘The johns tied me to it?’ ‘I don't know.’

1961 P. White Riders in Chariot xi. 380 ‘I'll fetch the johns in the mornin'!’ she shrieked. ‘Layin' into a white woman!’

1982 R. Hall Just Relations 144 He took possession of the book... The johns'll get it if we leave it here.

2004 E. Weiner Drop Dead, my Lovely (2005) 207 I could sing to the johns but I'd be a happier American if you and I did a deal.

a. slang (originally U.S.). The (male) client of a prostitute. In early use also: a man who gives a woman money or gifts in return for, or in expectation of, sexual favours.

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society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > living on earnings of prostitute > man who

jock-gagger1809

fancy man1811

fancy-bloke1846

ponce1859

John1906

souteneur1906

Johnson1954

society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > frequenting prostitutes > one who > prostitute's client

punk-master1612

John1906

trick1925

score1961

punter1965

1906 National Police Gaz. (U.S.) 28 July 3/1 Why, I had a John in here and he was trying to buy me a new dress, and I thought he was wanting to know where I lived.

a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. vi. 154 A John's a sucker—a fellow that keeps a girl.

1953 W. S. Burroughs Junkie ii. 30 Mary was describing the techniques she used to get money from the ‘Johns’ who formed her principal source of revenue.

1972 New York 24 Apr. 38/3 Many working girls, when they are new in the city, spend at least a few months with a madam to meet the better johns.

2001 J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand lxxxii. 445 The truck men pimped. They signed johns up early.

b. U.S. slang. A gullible or easily-fooled person, a dupe; esp. a potential victim of a swindle or confidence trick. Cf. mark n.¹ 26.

ΚΠ

1908 K. McGaffey Sorrows of Show Girl viii. 92 Every time the Johns would fall, except in Milwaukee, and nobody ever got anything out of that town anyway.

1946 W. L. Gresham Nightmare Alley xi. 152 One live John and we're set.

1969 J. Crumley One to Count Cadence 237 You're obviously as hip as Richard Nixon, but you're good enough to fool these Johns.

II. Uses of the simple personal name to refer to things.

5. A kind of pink (pink n.⁵ 1a). Frequently in plural. Also with distinguishing word, often describing the colour of the flower. Now only in sweet John n.

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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > pinks or carnations

gillyflower1517

carnation1538

clove gillyflower1538

incarnation1538

William1538

pink1566

John1572

Indian eye1573

sops-in-wine1573

sweet John1573

sweet-william1573

tuft gillyflower1573

Colmenier1578

small honesty1578

tol-me-neer1578

London tuft1597

maidenly pink1597

mountain pink1597

clove-carnation1605

musk-gillyflower1607

London pride1629

pride of London1629

maiden pink1650

Indian pink1664

Spanish pink1664

pheasant's eye pink1718

flake1727

flame1727

picotee1727

old man's head1731

painted lady1731

piquet1731

China-pink1736

clove1746

wild pink1753

lime-wort1777

matted thrift1792

clove-pink1837

Cheddar Pink1843

Dianthus1849

bunch pink1857

perpetual-flowering carnation1861

cliff pink1863

meadow pink1866

musk carnation1866

Jack1873

wax-pink1891

Malmaison1892

grenadin1904

1572 H. Platt Floures of Philos. Addr. to Rdr. The Iohn so sweete in shewe and smell, distincte by colours twaine, Aboute the borders of their beds in seemelie sighte remaine.

1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 478 Armeria alba. White Iohns. Armeria rubra. Red Iohns.

1710 W. Salmon Botanologia II. dccxxxvii. 1257/2 (heading) Of Williams and Johns Sweet, Garden and Wild.

1749 J. Barrow Dict. Medicum Universale Caryophyllus Sylvestris, offic. white johns, or white pinks. It grows in pastures and uncultivated places.

1904 R. P. Brotherston Bk. Carnation i. 4 A German species allied to D[ianthus] barbatus, and interesting as the supposed plant that was largely cultivated as long ago as the sixteenth century by the name of ‘Sweet John’, or simply ‘Johns’.

6. slang. The penis. Cf. John Thomas n. 2.

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the world > life > the body > sex organs > male sex organs > [noun] > penis

weapona1000

tarsec1000

pintleOE

cock?c1335

pillicock?c1335

yard1379

arrowa1382

looma1400

vergea1400

instrumentc1405

fidcocka1475

privya1500

virile member (or yard)?1541

prickc1555

tool1563

pillock1568

penis1578

codpiece1584

needle1592

bauble1593

dildo1597

nag1598

virility1598

ferret1599

rubigo?a1600

Jack1604

mentula1605

virge1608

prependent1610

flute1611

other thing1628

engine1634

manhood1640

cod1650

quillity1653

rammer1653

runnion1655

pego1663

sex1664

propagator1670

membrum virile1672

nervea1680

whore-pipe1684

Roger1689

pudding1693

handle?1731

machine1749

shaft1772

jock1790

poker1811

dickyc1815

Johnny?1833

organ1833

intromittent apparatus1836

root1846

Johnson1863

Peter1870

John Henry1874

dickc1890

dingusc1890

John Thomasc1890

old fellowc1890

Aaron's rod1891

dingle-dangle1893

middle leg1896

mole1896

pisser1896

micky1898

baby-maker1902

old man1902

pecker1902

pizzle1902

willy1905

ding-dong1906

mickey1909

pencil1916

dingbatc1920

plonkerc1920

Johna1922

whangera1922

knob1922

tube1922

ding1926

pee-pee1927

prong1927

pud1927

hose1928

whang1928

dong1930

putz1934

porkc1935

wiener1935

weenie1939

length1949

tadger1949

winkle1951

dinger1953

winky1954

dork1961

virilia1962

rig1964

wee-wee1964

Percy1965

meat tool1966

chopper1967

schlong1967

swipe1967

chode1968

trouser snake1968

ding-a-ling1969

dipstick1970

tonk1970

noonies1972

salami1977

monkey1978

langer1983

wanker1987

a1922 T. S. Eliot in C. Ricks Inventions of March Hare (1996) App. A. 314 O daughter dear daughter I think you are a fool To run against a man with a john like a mule.

1930 Lyra Ebriosa 10 Each man began to seek a place To sink his festive John.

1934 Neuphilol. Mitt. 35 130 Here [i.e. at public-school] his first linguistic experience will be with mumfordish and swear-words (e.g...john ‘penis’..).

1948 D. Ballantyne Cunninghams ii. xvi. 241 How often did the nurse find him with his old john lying limply?

1972 C. Murry Private View i. 33 The tip of old John brushed against the inside of my thigh.

7. slang (originally and chiefly U.S.). Usually with lower-case initial. A toilet, a lavatory.Compare earlier cuz-john n. and Johnny n. 5, and perhaps Sir John n. 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > privy or latrine > [noun] > water-closet or lavatory

closet1496

water closet1736

water closet1747

throne room1787

W.C.1815

netty1825

convenience1841

Johnny1847

lavabo1852

restrooma1856

small room1858

cloakroom1865

lavatory1874

bathroom1883

toilet1886

can1900

place1902

lav1913

washroom1919

head1920

lavvy1922

dike1923

smallest room1930

John1931

khazi1932

loo1940

biffy1942

Wa1953

shitcan1954

commode1958

cludgie1961

1931 A. M. Lindbergh Let. 28 Sept. in Hour of Gold (1973) 196 A little boy going to the john.

1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 54 ‘You poor old bastard,’ I said to the Hoplite, as he sat there on my john.

1972 Last Whole Earth Catal. (Portola Inst.) 247/3 Every time you take a dump or a leak in a standard john, you flush five gallons of water out with your piddle.

1990 J. Wambaugh Golden Orange iv. 42 Her boyfriend or husband might be in the john.

2013 R. Yancey 5th Wave lxxviii. 396 I have to go to the john.

Compounds

C1. Preceding another word or phrase treated as a kind of surname, so as to form a name or nickname, often applied familiarly or contemptuously.

a. Denoting a person of a particular type or (a personification of) an institution.

† John-a-dogs n. Obsolete (probably) a dogwhipper.In quot. c1564 apparently a humorous extended use.

ΚΠ

c1564 T. Buckley Oxf. Libell in R. Hughey Arundel Harington MS (1960) II. 279 What newes Iohn a dogges what newes? [margin] Iohn a dogges one appoynted to carte whores.

1613 T. Jackson Eternall Truth Script. ii. xxviii. §5 Never to swerve from the beadle of beggars or John-a-dogs his determinations and resolutions in any point of logic, philosophy, or metaphysics.

John-a-dreams n. (a generic name for) a person given to daydreaming or idle meditation; a dreamer, a fantasist.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > mental image, idea, or fancy > daydream or reverie > [noun] > one who daydreams

musardc1330

John-a-dreams1603

air-monger1628

castle-builder1711

daydreamer1750

castle-hunter1752

Alnaschar1800

reverist1824

stargazer1843

Johnny Head-in-the-Air?1851

pipe-dreamer1899

head-in-air1932

Walter Mitty1947

Mitty1953

1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 594 I like to an asse and Iohn a Dreames.

1668 J. Ogilby Æsopic's xxviii. 70 Dull Earthen Clod, that stand'st like John a Dreams, O'r Rocks and Mountains Art will carry Streams.

1839 Court & Lady's Mag. Oct. 425/2 What muse ye on with such a John-a-dreams air?

1914 Canton (Ohio) Daily News 19 May 9/6 As for what you say happened on some steamer—why, you are John-a-Dreams.

2008 Independent (Nexis) 21 June 42 Every John-a-dreams is a tycoon or a second-hand diva today.

† John-a-droyne n. Obsolete (meaning unknown.) [Perhaps a variant of John-a-dreams n., though this is first attested later.]

ΚΠ

1562 J. Heywood Sixt Hundred Epigrammes lxxxviii, in Wks. sig. Ddiii^v Hogis head in hogstowne is no Iohn a droyne.

1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. P^v That poore Iohn a Droynes his man,..a great big-boand thresher.

† John-a-nods n. Obsolete (historical and archaic in later use) (a generic name for) a person who is drowsy or falling asleep; (hence) a dull, inattentive, or stupid person.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > drowsiness > [noun] > one who is drowsy

dormousea1568

drowsy-head1576

sleepy-head1577

John-a-nods1600

soporific1808

somnolent1841

somnivolent1884

drowser1887

1600 N. Breton Pasquils Passe 29 When Iohn a Noddes will be a Gentleman, Because his worship weares a velvet coate..I feare me Doomes day cannot be farre off.

1603 S. Harsnett Declar. Popish Impostures xxiii. 160 Hee would say The Apostle [sc. Saint Iohn] wrote like a good plaine Iohn a Nods.

1639 J. Taylor Iuniper Lect. xi. 94 For her loving Iohn a Nods lets her say and doe what she list.

1895 B. Carman in Bookman Apr. 202 ‘You have begun To mutter in your dreams,’ Said John-a-nods to Jock-a-dreams.

1901 J. H. McCarthy If I were King xii. 214 I have been John-a-Nods for the moment, sire; now I am Jack-a-Deeds again.

† John Blunt n. Obsolete (perhaps) a generic name for a dull, stupid person; cf. Jack Blunt n. at Jack n.² Compounds 1b.

ΚΠ

?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 44 For all the buddis of Iohne Blunt, quhen he abone clymis.

† John Cheese n. Obsolete rare (perhaps) a fool, an idiot; a contemptible person.

ΚΠ

a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 15 If thou be thrall to none of theise, Away good Peek goos, hens Iohn Cheese.

John Chinaman n. usually depreciative (now dated and offensive) (a generic name for) a Chinese person (esp. a man); Chinese people collectively.

ΚΠ

1818 Q. Rev. Jan. 315 The report of John Chinaman (so they familiarly called the interpreter) is too curious to be omitted.

1865 Dunedin Punch 16 Sept. 119 John Chinaman is to immigrate here.

1869 J. R. Browne Adventures Apache Country 308 John Chinamen, with long tails rolled up on the backs of their heads, running distractedly through the crowd in search of their lost bundles.

1933 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Mar. 10 Old John Chinaman, patient, hardworking, scrupulously honest.

2007 Spectator 17 Mar. 22/1 If John Chinaman can't beat QPR in a scrap, then by my reckoning Taiwan is safe as houses and we could probably retake Hong Kong in half an hour.

John Citizen n. (a name for) a hypothetical average or ordinary man, esp. considered as a member of the community; average or ordinary people collectively.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > man > [noun] > ordinary or average man

Richard Roe1593

Tom Stiles1681

John Doe1756

the man in the street1831

the next man1848

Everyman1901

the man on the Clapham omnibus1903

slob1910

John Citizen1918

average Joe1940

Joe Blow1941

Joe Public1942

Joe Doakes1943

Joe Soap1943

Joe Bloggs1969

Joe Sixpack1972

everyguy1976

1918 Times of India 21 Oct. 11/2 The caucuses are set against it—but John Citizen is in favour of it.

1931 T. E. Gregory in W. Rose Outl. Mod. Knowl. 626 If John Citizen buys a house out of his own savings, [etc.].

1965 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 13 July (1970) 296 I would depend upon that man if I were John Citizen looking on from my living room.

2014 Malta Independent (Nexis) 18 Oct. What John Citizen is demanding from our Prime Minister and the rest of the Labour Government now is less waffle and more clear action.

John Company n. now historical (a personification of or humorous name for) the (English or British) East India Company. [After Dutch Jan Kompanie, Jan Compagnie, a name for the Dutch East India Company, and subsequently the Dutch government, in the Dutch East Indies. The Dutch name probably arises from the use of the personal name as a generic, as in English (see sense 1), the use being transferred to a corporate entity referred to familiarly as though an individual. The following probably shows an (early) after-the-fact rationalization of the name:

1785 G. Forster tr. A. Sparrman Voy. Cape Good Hope II. 21 The ignorant Hottentots and Indians not having been able to form any idea of the Dutch East-India Company,..the Dutch from the very beginning in India, politically gave out the company for one individual powerful prince, by the christian name of Jan or John... On this account I ordered my interpreter to say farther, that we were the children of Jan Company, who had sent us out to view this country.

]

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > business affairs > a business or company > [noun] > companies involved in specific business > trading in specific place

company1599

East India Company1608

South Sea Company1708

EIC1730

John Company1782

north-west1837

1782 Parker's Gen. Advertiser 3 June The neglect of Messieurs North and the Directors of John Company.

1832 F. Marryat Newton Forster III. iv. 46 John Company will some day find out the truth.

1886 E. Lynn Linton Paston Carew ii He was offered a position in India, in the service of John Company, under whose flag, as we know, the pagoda-tree was worth shaking.

1920 N. L. Hallward (title) William Bolts, a Dutch Adventurer Under John Company.

2010 M. Dillon China (2012) ii. 31 It was Britain's East India Company,..or ‘John Company’ as it was known familiarly, that played the most important role in the opening of China to Western trade.

† John Dringle n. Obsolete (perhaps) a fool, a simpleton.

ΚΠ

1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe To Rdr. sig. A4 O but sayth another Iohn Dringle, there is a booke of the Red Herrings taile, printed foure Termes since that made this stale.

c1600 Return: 1st Pt. iii. i, in Three Parnassus Plays (1949) 178 Euerie Iohn Dringle can make a booke in the commendacions of temperance, againste the seuen deadlie sinns.

† John-hold-my-staff n. Obsolete (a generic name for) a servile or put-upon attendant; cf. Jack-hold-my-staff n. at Jack n.² Phrases 3.

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society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > servile

John-hold-my-staff1542

Jack-hold-my-staff1625

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes i. f. 132 If thou wouldest haue washed herbes for thyne own dyner, thou shouldest not in this maner haue been a Ihon hold my-staf to Dionysius.

1605 N. Breton I pray you be not Angrie sig. B4 I should stand like Iohn hold my Staffe, while they take their pleasure.

1694 Fifteen Comforts Rash Marriage (ed. 4) vi. 45 The poor Fop at Home is like John Hold-my-staff, she must Rule, Govern, Insult, Brawl.

John Hop n. [rhyming slang for cop n.⁵, although compare sense 3] Australian and New Zealand slang a (male) police officer or military police officer; cf. johnop n., Johnny Hop n. at Johnny n. Compounds 2.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman

truncheon officer1708

runner1735

horny1753

nibbing-cull1775

nabbing-cull1780

police officer1784

police constable1787

policeman1788

scout1789

nabman1792

nabber1795

pig1811

Bow-street officer1812

nab1813

peeler1816

split1819

grunter1823

robin redbreast1824

bulky1828

raw (or unboiled) lobster1829

Johnny Darm1830

polis1833

crusher1835

constable1839

police1839

agent1841

johndarm1843

blue boy1844

bobby1844

bluebottle1845

copper1846

blue1848

polisman1850

blue coat1851

Johnny1851

PC1851

spot1851

Jack1854

truncheonist1854

fly1857

greycoat1857

cop1859

Cossack1859

slop1859

scuffer1860

nailerc1863

worm1864

Robert1870

reeler1879

minion of the law1882

ginger pop1887

rozzer1888

nark1890

bull1893

grasshopper1893

truncheon-bearer1896

John1898

finger1899

flatty1899

mug1903

John Dunn1904

John Hop1905

gendarme1906

Johnny Hop1908

pavement pounder1908

buttons1911

flat-foot1913

pounder1919

Hop1923

bogy1925

shamus1925

heat1928

fuzz1929

law1929

narker1932

roach1932

jonnop1938

grass1939

roller1940

Babylon1943

walloper1945

cozzer1950

Old Bill1958

cowboy1959

monaych1961

cozzpot1962

policeperson1965

woolly1965

Fed1966

wolly1970

plod1971

roz1971

Smokey Bear1974

bear1975

beast1978

woodentop1981

Five-O1983

dibble1990

Bow-street runner-

1905 N.Z. Truth 12 Aug. 4 An incident occurred which..robbed John Hop of his glory.

1918 Chrons. N.Z.E.F. 19 July 280 In view of the fact that the camp ‘John Hops’ were off duty.

1933 Bulletin (Sydney) 31 May 12/3 Even on beat duty a John Hop..can cogitate.

1965 G. McInnes Road to Gundagai xi. 187 Then we would climb the steps, leaving our bicycles chained to a lamp post (courtesy of John Hops).

1981 G. Cross George & Widda-Woman 51 A couple of John-Hops arrived to investigate the accident.

2015 Sun Herald (Sydney) (Nexis) 15 Mar. 34 Without new laws to curb data use and abuse, the John Hops will be powerless to protect us.

† John Indifferent n. Obsolete (a name for) a person who is neutral or unconcerned; an apathetic person.

ΚΠ

1590 R. Harvey Plaine Percevall sig. B3 If I vse indifferency, call me not Iohn Indifferent.

1614 T. Freeman Rubbe & Great Cast ii. sig. K2 Thy wit hath beene an honest Innocent, A Naturall, a Iohn-Indifferent.

1642 T. Jordan Rules to know Royall King 3 He must needs be a coward that is a Neuter, (a Iohn-indifferent).

John Law n. [compare sense 3] U.S. a (male) police officer; the police or forces of the law considered collectively; cf. sense 3.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun]

police1798

police force1820

constabulary1837

the force1851

John Law1903

button1921

fuzz1929

law1929

Babylon1943

monaych1961

filth1967

heat1967

Bill1969

Old Bill1970

beast1978

blues and twos1985

dibble1990

po-po1994

1903 J. London in Ainslee's Oct. 79/2 ‘I am a free downtrodden American citizen, and no man shall say my time is his.’ ‘Save John Law,’ he chuckled.

1925 Amer. Speech 1 151/2 ‘Dick’ and ‘bull’ and ‘John Law’ have become established as names for the police, while ‘fink’ and ‘stool’ and ‘fly-dick’ denote the plain-clothes men.

1984 M. A. Jarman Dancing nightly in Tavern 14 They await the ghouls from the pre-fabs. John Law with his flashing baubles and squeaking holster.

2002 Weekly World News 22 Jan. 5/3 Buy one of those magnetic blue or red lights used by rent-a-cops... John Law will think you're a fellow traveller.

† John Long n. Obsolete the name of (the type of) an untrustworthy messenger whose messages are never delivered or take an inordinately long time; originally and chiefly in John Long the Carrier.Cf. Tom Long n. at Tom n.¹ Compounds 1b(b).

ΚΠ

1560 J. Heywood Fourth Hundred Epygrams sig. Bv Of John longe the carier... John longe by this length is longe to declare.

1651 W. Leach Propositions 17 The Creditors..only expect their money by John Long the Carrier, when he cometh.

a1796 S. Pegge Two Coll. Derbicisms (1896) 137 John Long, Carrier; spoken of a tardy messenger.

John-of-all-trades n. now somewhat rare a person able to turn his or her hand to many different types of work; = Jack of all trades n.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > [noun] > odd-job or handyman

factotum1562

Magister factotum1573

Johannes factotum1592

Jack of all trades1618

Tom of all trades1631

John-of-all-trades1639

handyman1742

odd man1743

gimcrack1766

Jack of all work1773

orraman1802

bottle washer1835

Jack1836

odd-jobs man1859

roustabout1862

hob-jobber1873

rouster1882

odd-jobber1886

knockabout1889

orra-loon1895

rouser1896

trouncer1896

leatherneck1898

loppy1898

rouseabout1901

bluetongue2002

1639 J. Mayne Citye Match ii. v. 19 You Mungrill, You Iohn of all Trades.

1659 Maze 43 There is..a peeking cozening Gipsey, a John of all Trades, having sojourn'd in as many Shops, as ever Proteus took upon him Shapes.

1672 R. Wild Let. Declar. Liberty Conscience 3 A Good King..who sees no reason for putting down Haberdashers, and Johns of all Trades.

1899 Greensburg (Indiana) Standard 13 Jan. Our town is a lively place this winter; a saw mill, a lamp-wick peddler, a fur buyer, a Wild Bill, a lively Ben and a John-of-all-trades.

2008 N. M. Roberts Pointe & Shoot 6 I opened my eyes to see Marlys, my friend, dance mom, and general john-of-all-trades. You name it, she did it at the studio.

† John-out-of-office n. Obsolete a person who is out of work or no longer in office; = Jack out of office n. at Jack n.² Phrases 3.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > one who does not work > [noun] > one who has been put out of office

Jack out of officea1530

quondam1535

Jack out of service?1541

John-out-of-office1576

dischargee1894

1576 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (rev. ed.) II. 2002/1 Who now (God be thanked) is Iohn out of office, and glad of his neighbours good wyll.

1848 Douglas Jerrold's Shilling Mag. 7 402 ‘The Elm’ murmurs a Croaker—not a John out of office—remembering the fancy of poor Thomas Hood..where the Poet played with Death, [etc.].

John Thomson's man n. [origin uncertain; perhaps originally *Joan Thomson's man, although such a form is not attested] Scottish (now chiefly historical and rare) a man who is dominated or ruled by his wife; a henpecked husband.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > married man > [noun] > husband > henpecked husband

John Thomson's man?a1513

Tom Tiler1582

henpeck1711

jerry-sneak1820

monkey-man1840

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 197 God gif ȝe war Iohne Thomsounis man.

1637 R. Monro Exped. Scots Regim. ii. 30 Some will alleage, he was Iohn Thomsons man. I answer, it was all one, if shee was good: for all stories esteeme them happie, that can live together man and wife, without contention.

1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem i. 18 The imperious Roxalan, Made the great Turk John Thomsons man. Another Warriour, all his life Was also ruled by his Wife.

1716 R. Wodrow Analecta (1842) II. 312 Speaking of Samson, he called him ‘John Thompson's man’.

1816 W. Scott Old Mortality ix, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 178 ‘The de'il's in the wife,’ said Cuddie; ‘d'ye think I am to be John Tamson's man, and maistered by women a' the days o' my life?’

1972 R. Crichton Camerons ii. xiv. 231 Aye, he's a John Thomson's man the now.

† John Trott n. Obsolete (a generic name for) a simple, unsophisticated, or dull man; a simpleton, an oaf; also attributive, designating something ordinary, commonplace, or undistinguished.In quot. 1676 the name of a character in a play. In quot. 1712 the name of a fictitious correspondent.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > stupid person, dolt, blockhead > lout, oaf, booby > [noun]

lubber1362

looby1377

howfing?a1513

slouch?1518

bowberta1522

knuckylbonyarda1529

lob1533

lout1548

patch1549

hoballa1556

lilburnea1556

lobcocka1556

chub1558

hick1565

lourd1579

peasant1581

clown1583

lubbard1586

lumberer1593

lump1597

blooterc1600

boobyc1600

lob-coat1604

hoy1607

bacon-brainsa1635

alcatote1638

oaf1638

kelf1665

brute1670

dowf1722

gawky1724

chuckle1731

chuckle-head1731

John Trott1753

stega1823

lummoxa1825

gawk1837

country jakea1854

guffin1862

galoot1866

stot1877

lobster1896

mutt1900

palooka1920

schlub1950

1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode iii. iii. 53 Sir Fop. There's one damn'd English blockhead Among 'em... Loveit. What's your Name? Footm. John Trott, Madam!

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 296. ⁋7 Some..would advise me to leave it [sc. Dancing] off, withall that I make my self ridiculous... Your humble servant, John Trott.]

1753 S. Foote Englishman in Paris Epil. The meerest John Trot in a Week you shall zee Bien poli bien frizé tout à fait un Marquis.

1762 G. Colman Musical Lady ii. i. 17 Our travelling gentry..return from the tour of Europe as mere English boors as they went—John Trot still.

1798 C. Smith Young Philosopher I. 207 I have been tired of such John Trott sort of prosing ever since I was ten years old.

1839 Richmond County (N.Y.) Mirror 15 June 164/3 Each yankee village can boast a John Trott, The offspring of Freedom; though simple, supreme.

b. Denoting an animal, plant, or thing.

John Barleycorn n. (also Sir John Barleycorn) (a personification of) barley, or of alcoholic drink made from barley.Originating in, or popularized by, ballads and folk songs about a character with this name, of which numerous versions exist (as that cited in quot. c1625).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > [noun]

drink1042

liquor1340

bousea1350

cidera1382

dwale1393

sicera1400

barrelc1400

strong drinkc1405

watera1475

swig1548

tipple1581

amber1598

tickle-brain1598

malt pie1599

swill1602

spicket1615

lap1618

John Barleycornc1625

pottle1632

upsy Englisha1640

upsy Friese1648

tipplage1653

heartsease1668

fuddle1680

rosin1691

tea1693

suck1699

guzzlea1704

alcohol1742

the right stuff1748

intoxicant1757

lush1790

tear-brain1796

demon1799

rum1799

poison1805

fogram1808

swizzle1813

gatter1818

wine(s) and spirit(s)1819

mother's milkc1821

skink1823

alcoholics1832

jough1834

alky1844

waipiro1845

medicine1847

stimulant1848

booze1859

tiddly1859

neck oil1860

lotion1864

shrab1867

nose paint1880

fixing1882

wet1894

rabbit1895

shicker1900

jollop1920

mule1920

giggle-water1929

rookus juice1929

River Ouse1931

juice1932

lunatic soup1933

wallop1933

skimish1936

sauce1940

turps1945

grog1946

joy juice1960

the world > food and drink > food > corn, cereals, or grain > [noun] > barley

bere corneOE

bereOE

barley1124

John Barleycornc1625

c1625 (title) A pleasant new Ballad..Of the bloody murther of Sir John Barley-corne.

1648 J. Taylor (title) A Brown Dozen of Drunkards..Whipt, and shipt..For their abusing of Mr. Malt the bearded son, and Barley-broth the brainlesse daughter of Sir John Barley-corne.

1733 Disc. Prepar., Preserv., & Restoration Malt-liquors 86 This Abuse of Sir John Barley-corn increases the Lawyer's Gain, the Physician's Visits, Patients Fees, [etc.].

1786 R. Burns Poems 23 John Barleycorn, Thou king o' grain!

1826 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes Scotl. 10 A drunkard..fearless in the strength of John Barleycorn.

1851 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 3 Oct. Having been paying his respects to John Barleycorn rather too freely in the course of the evening.

1913 J. London John Barleycorn i. 4 When the women get the ballot, they will vote for prohibition... It is the wives..who will drive the nails into the coffin of John Barleycorn.

1974 Pioneer (Bemidji, Minnesota) 12 July 2/4 Everyone knows that Sir John Barleycorn can lead a person from the path of righteousness.

2015 Sunday Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 5 Apr. 14 Those existential journeys which so few Irishmen have even contemplated without the companionship of one John Barleycorn.

John Collins n. a cocktail typically made of gin, lime or lemon juice, sugar, and soda water; a similar cocktail made with a base of whisky in place of gin (cf. Collins n.¹, Tom Collins n.). [The cocktail is said to have been invented by John Collins, head waiter at Limmer's Hotel and Coffee House, Conduit Street, London, probably in the first half of the 19th cent.]

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > cocktail > [noun] > other cocktails

balderdash1611

twist1699

Coke-upon-Littleton1740

julep1787

camphor julep1788

switchel1790

sling1792

mint sling1804

mint julep1809

swizzle1813

smash1850

rattlesnake1862

sour1862

Collins1865

John Collins1865

split1882

rickey1893

Picon punch1900

stinger1901

Bronx1906

Jack Rose1912

Pimm's1912

orange blossom1919

Americano1928

Merry Widow1930

snowball1930

atomic cocktail1941

Sazarac cocktail1941

grasshopper1949

Bellini1955

saketini1959

wallbanger1970

caipirinha1973

Long Island ice tea1978

Alabama slammer1980

Long Island iced tea1981

1865 Australasian 25 Feb. 8/7 That most angelic of drinks for a hot climate—a John Collins... Take a bottle of sodawater, a wineglassful of gin, a lump of sugar, a piece of ice, with a slice of lemon—mix well together.

1913 R. Brooke Let. 13 Aug. in Coll. Poems (1918) p. lxxxvi I believe I could do a deal in Real Estate,..over a John Collins, with a clean-shaven Yankee.

1962 Cocktails (Cunard Line) Tom Collins 3/-. John Collins 3/-. Rum Collins 2/9.

2009 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 2 Aug. (Styles section) 7/5 We're talking, of course, about a family of drinks: the gin-based Tom Collins and its lesser-known brethren, the John Collins (bourbon) and Charley Collins (rum).

John Down n. Newfoundland (now rare) the northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > birds > order Procellariiformes > [noun] > member of family Procellariidae (petrel) > member of genus Fulmarus (fulmar)

noddy1663

mollymawk1694

fulmar petrel1698

malduck1803

John Down1813

malmarsh1831

molly1857

mollyhawk1880

1813 G. Montagu Suppl. Ornithol. Dict. at Fulmar Here hangs I John Down for ever, That often crossed the bank for liver, Now to my sorrow and great surprise, Here I hang an anatomize.

1852 Arctic Misc. 10 On the banks of Newfoundland, where this bird is known by the name of ‘John Down’, it attends the fishing vessels for the offal of the cod fish.

1957 W. L. McAtee Folk-names Canad. Birds 4 Fulmar..John Down (Sailor's name, significance unknown. Nfld.).

John-go-to-bed-at-noon n. (also †John-that-goes-to-bed-at-noon) any of several plants having flowers that close at midday, esp. the goat's beard Tragopogon pratensis and scarlet pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis; cf. earlier go-to-bed-at-noon n. at go v. Compounds 3, and jack-go-to-bed-at-noon n. at Jack n.² Phrases 4.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Compositae (composite plants) > [noun] > goat's beard

goat's beardc1400

bucks-beard1551

Joseph's flower1578

Tragopogon1578

noontide1597

John-go-to-bed-at-noon1759

sleep-at-noon1779

nap-at-noon1828

jack-go-to-bed-at-noon1847

1759 R. Pultney in Philos. Trans. 1758 (Royal Soc.) 50 508 Our country people long since called it John-go-to-bed-at-noon.

1827 J. Clare Shepherd's Cal. 48 Which weeders see, and talk of rain; And boys, that mark them shut so soon, Call ‘John that goes bed at noon’.

1936 C. Sandburg People, Yes xciii. 244 John-go-to-bed-at-noon is the goat's beard plant shutting itself at twelve o'clock and show again only when the next day's sun is out.

1991 R. Strong Celebration of Gardens 149 Many plants have received names indicatory of their habits; thus Four-o'clocks, Morning Glory, Evening Glory, John-go-to-bed-at-noon, [etc.].

John Roscoe n. U.S. slang (now dated and humorous) a handgun; cf. roscoe n.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > small-arm > [noun]

handgun1411

piece1575

small arms1685

popper1751

shooting-iron1775

pelter1827

squib1839

shooter1840

shooting-stick1845

Betsy1856

smoke-wagon1891

rod1903

gat1904

belt gun1905

roscoe1914

smoke-stick1927

heat1928

heater1929

smoke-pole1929

John Roscoe1932

1932 D. Runyon in Collier's 11 June 32/2 My friend outs with a large John Roscoe.

1973 A. S. Neill Neill! Neill! Orange Peel! (rev. ed.) ii. 130 The USA.., where anyone can carry a gun, or, to be topical, should I say a Betsy or a John Roscoe?

1996 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 3 Feb. 43 The movies always make armed robbery look too easy. You present the old John Roscoe, state your demands clearly and succinctly, [etc.].

John Scott n. Angling (now chiefly historical) a kind of artificial fly used in salmon fishing; cf. Jock Scott n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > means of attracting fish > [noun] > artificial fly > types of

moor flylOE

drake-flya1450

dub-flya1450

dun cut1496

dun fly1496

louper1496

red fly1616

moorish fly1635

palmer1653

palmer fly1653

red hackle1653

red palmer1653

shell-fly1653

orange fly1662

blackfly1669

dun1676

dun hackle1676

hackle1676

mayfly1676

peacock fly1676

thorn-tree fly1676

turkey-fly1676

violet-fly1676

whirling dun1676

badger fly1681

greenfly1686

moorish brown1689

prime dun1696

sandfly1700

grey midge1724

whirling blue1747

dun drake?1758

death drake1766

hackle fly1786

badger1787

blue1787

brown-fly1787

camel-brown1787

spinner1787

midge1799

night-fly1799

thorn-fly1799

turkey1799

withy-fly1799

grayling fly1811

sun fly1820

cock-a-bondy1835

brown moth1837

bunting-lark fly1837

governor1837

water-hen hackle1837

Waterloo fly1837

coachman1839

soldier palmer1839

blue jay1843

red tag1850

canary1855

white-tip1856

spider1857

bumble1859

doctor1860

ibis1863

Jock Scott1866

eagle1867

highlander1867

jay1867

John Scott1867

judge1867

parson1867

priest1867

snow-fly1867

Jack Scott1874

Alexandra1875

silver doctor1875

Alexandra fly1882

grackle1894

grizzly queen1894

heckle-fly1897

Zulu1898

thunder and lightning1910

streamer1919

Devon1924

peacock1950

1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling x. 332 (John Scott.)..is a very tasty-looking fly.

1882 J. M. Coles Summer Traveling in Iceland x. 145 I will here mention some of the most killing flies for these waters... They are as follows:—Popham, John Scott, Silver doctor, Childers and Butcher.

2012 M. Radencich Classic Salmon Fly Patterns 131/1 (heading) John Scott.

C2. As the second element in compounds. See apple-john n., bad-john n., Blue John n., Cheap John n. at cheap adj., adv., and n.² Compounds, herb John n., Poor John n., etc.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	john
释义	Johnn. Brit. /dʒɒn/, U.S. /dʒɑn/ Forms: Middle English Johan, Middle English–1500s Iohan, Middle English–1600s Iohn, Middle English– John, 1500s Ihon, 1500s Iohne (chiefly Scottish). Origin: From a proper name. Etymon: proper name John. Etymology: < the male forename John < Old French, Middle French Johan (rare), variant of Jehan, Middle French Jan, Middle French, French Jean < post-classical Latin Joannes (later Johannes) < Hellenistic Greek Ἰωάννης < Hebrew Yōḥānān, variant of Yĕhōḥānān, lit. ‘God is gracious’.John is a male forename, that of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist as well as of a number of other important figures in the history of the Christian Church. It has been frequent as a male forename in England since early Middle English times, and has been extremely common since the middle of the 13th century. Owing to the frequency of the personal name, it has also frequently been used as a generic term for any male (compare similar use of the equivalent names in various other languages, as e.g. Dutch Jan ), especially one of low social station or (in Middle English) a priest (compare Sir John n.); most other uses in English ultimately reflect such generic use. In sense 3 probably largely a shortening of johndarm n., although probably merging with other generic uses (compare use in quot. a1637 at sense 2a). John Hop n. at Compounds 1a may reflect a later rationalization of this use as rhyming slang. With sense 7 compare earlier cuz-john n., Sir John n. 2. For a selection of examples of use of the personal name (including as the name of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist) down to the 16th century compare the following (in Old English the Latin form Iohannes is usual):OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) i. 6 Mann wæs fram Gode asend, þæs nama wæs Iohannes [c1200 Hatton Iohannes].lOE Manumission, Exeter (Exeter 3501) in C. Fox & B. Dickins Early Cultures North-west Europe (1950) 366 And ðis is seo gewitnisse, Iohan alurices sune,..Huberd Randolf cotes sune, Osbern Hod Pilegrim Ialebriht Gesfrei se coc, [etc.].c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 714 Sannt iohan bapptisste comm Biforenn cristess come.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 127 He is þet soðe lomb alswa Sancte Iohan þe baptist cweð.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 131 Sancte iohannes baptiste, þe ure drihten ber iwitnesse.?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 84 He isech his leoue moder & seint Iohan þe ewangeliste & þe oðere maries.a1300 Passion our Lord 223 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 43 Ion hedde enne mantel of cendal hym abute.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 9924 Richard..ȝef is broþer Ion [rhyme anon] Þe erldom of gloucestre.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. v. l. 415 Al þat euere Marke made Mathew, John, [c1400 C text Iohan] & lucas.a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 325 On Seint Jhones Day.1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 3rd Serm. sig. Evii^v Some saye, you are Iohan Baptiste.Middle English Johan was apparently originally disyllabic, with stress on the first syllable. The reduction to Jon does not appear to be paralleled in French (or Dutch). Spellings with hn probably reflect the perceived authority of the Latin form Iohannes (Middle English spellings of the forename with initial Jh probably show a different origin, being intended to supply a less ambiguous spelling for the affricate /dʒ/). The male forename John, since the 13th cent. one of the commonest in England (and subsequently the English-speaking world), hence applied in a wide range of general and specific contexts. Cf. Jack n.², Joe n.², and Johnny n., the latter two of which are now more common than John in similar transferred contexts. I. Uses of the simple personal name to refer to people. 1. a. (A generic name for) a man, esp. an ordinary man, a fellow, a chap. Now somewhat rare. ΚΠ 1392 in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. (1900) 15 116 (MED) But hethyng wil we suffre non, Neither of hobbe ne of Johan. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. vii. l. 44 (MED) Ac many a iustice an iuroure wolde for Iohan do more Þan pro dei pietate. a1601 Nashe's Choise of Valentines (1899) 4 Where to, the contrie franklins flock-meale swarme, And Jhon and Jone come marching arme in arme. 1691 R. Baxter Against Revolt to Foreign Jurisdict. ii. i. 422 We have Communion with all Christians in Abassia, Armenia, and all the Earth..: But if John or Joan here commit Adultery, and be excommunicated as impenitent, we are not bound to send Messengers to the Antipodes. 1770 Cheats of London Exposed 88 Plain John is liable to be deluded by the pomp of a train, or a glare of a necklace. 1789 World (London) 20 June One honest John, who passed by, remarked—‘To be sure it was over with the Opera.’ 1888 Weekly Inter Ocean (Chicago) 11 Dec. 10/4 Some Johns have a penchant for delicate bread, And some for a mealy potato. 1906 H. Green At Actors' Boarding House 125 Want to be careful of those Johns on the other side. They're not like we are. 1984 W. Gibson Neuromancer (1989) ii. iii. 51 Besides, you're a clever john, no? You can winkle him, sure. †b. every man John: every single person; every single one of a specified group. Cf. every man jack n. at man n.¹ 21. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1763 London Evening-post 6 Jan. All those Auctioneers who sell in the liberties of the city without being sworn, are, every Man John of them, liable to the penalty of 25 l. for every lot they sell. 1780 ‘Harum Skarum’ Acct. Deb. Coachmaker's Hall 20 They have been sworn at Highgate every man John of 'em. 1832 T. Creevey in H. Maxwell Creevey Papers (1903) II. 245 Dead as mutton, every man John of us! 1838 P. Hawker Diary (1893) II. 141 I knocked down 16 geese and sacked ‘every man John’ of them. 1887 World (N.Y.) 17 May 3/1 Every man John of them made hits off his delivery and really convinced him that right here in New York is a team that knows how to bat. 1914 Hamilton (Ohio) Evening Jrnl. 2 Apr. 7/1 Herzog..has every man John swearing by him, where in former years every man was swearing at the manager. 1922 Med. Standard June 10/1 On the absentee's return, every man John of his patients will come right back to him. c. British colloquial. As a general form of address for any man. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > familiar form of address mon amic1425 matec1500 boy1532 old lad1594 old boy1602 captaina1616 mon cher1673 old chap1823 old man1828 ou maat1838 boysie1846 old top1856 boetie1867 bra1869 cocker1888 mon vieux1888 face1891 yessir1892 George1903 old sport1905 old bean1917 segotia1917 babe1918 bro1918 tovarish1918 old egg1919 midear1921 old (tin of) fruit1923 sport1923 mush1936 cowboy1961 coz1961 wack1963 yaar1963 John1982 1982 A. Sayle (title of song) 'Ullo John! Gotta new motor? 1994 J. Kelman How Late it Was 213 Ye're standing have a quiet pint and some cunt wants to get past ye and he says, Excuse me a minute john, then he takes out the stanley and rips the face of the guy standing next to ye. 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe St xii. 114 Say no more John. 2. a. (A generic name for, or form of address to) a servant, or other person considered to be of inferior rank, as a military cadet, new recruit, etc. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > law > law enforcement > law-enforcement or peace-officer > [noun] > constable sub-constable1512 beagle1559 harman-beck1567 John?1576 clarigold1597 officer1597 constable1600 redbeard1607 Robin Hoga1682 Moabite1699 night-magistrate1699 society > authority > subjection > service > servant > [noun] > man or boy knightc950 knapec1000 shalkOE knaveOE sergeantc1200 swainc1275 groom1297 garcion13.. ladc1300 harlota1350 serving-mana1400 manservant1409 varlet1483 handman1496 custrelinga1556 Sim Shakebuckler?1560 lackey-boy1575 vadelect1586 muchacho1591 round robin1591 varlettoa1616 vadelet1661 gossoon1684 skip1699 mozo1811 Jack1836 tea-boy1847 John1848 ?1576 A. Hall Let. touchyng Priuate Quarell sig. f. iv If you serue the Princes turne, hee findes no fault: if you broke for the Lordes, they haue no losse, but they will take you still for a Iohn, if agaynste your trust you be wonne. a1637 B. Jonson Tale of Tub iv. (Sc. Int.) 57 in Wks. (1640) III All Constables are truly Iohn's for the King, What ere their names are; be they Tony, or Roger . View more context for this quotation 1700 in H. Playford Wit & Mirth II. 221 This Footman swore he was a Lord... But when she heard one call out John, Up rose her Spark, and strait was gone. 1726 Four Years Voy. Capt. G. Roberts 33 All the rest of the Johns that were standing by, in a seeming friendly Manner, told me, that it would be much better for me, to make a full and true Discovery of every Thing. 1797 Sporting Mag. Apr. 60/2 The Servant lets him in, with dismal face... John's countenance as rueful looked, and grim. 1848 W. M. Thackeray Bk. Snobs ii. 10 Suddenly..her Majesty's own crimson footmen, with epaulets and black plushes, came in. It was pitiable to see the other poor Johns slink off at this arrival! 1883 J. P. Groves From Cadet to Captain ii. 15 My ignorance of the manners and customs of Sandhurst cadets prevented my knowing that ‘John’ was a generic title applied to all first-termers. 1906 H. Cornell Kenelm's Desire 3 She's always had a ‘John’ of some description in her kitchen. 1918 Baltimore News 24 Oct. You know they call a man who has seen no service a ‘John’. Well, I am not a ‘John’ any more. 1934 Our Army Dec. 25 Get under cover, you big Johns. 1968 J. Lelyveld in E. Cole & T. Flaherty House of Bondage 15 A large proportion of whites don't trouble themselves to call their servants by their own names. Sometimes they use a common name like John whether it belongs to the man or not. b. Used as a general form of address to a person of a different ethnic or national background whose name is not known or not considered important. Now somewhat rare and usually considered offensive. ΚΠ 1818 B. Hall Acct. Voy. Corea ii. 92 This [Chinese] interpreter is called ‘John’ by all the parties. 1894 E. Glanville Fair Colonist x. 76 ‘What is your name, John?’—all black men being Johns when they are not Boys. 1912 D. Lowrie My Life in Prison 26 The Chinaman was much elated at the way I took it... ‘How long have you been here, John?’ I inquired. 1923 H. W. Wheeler Frontier Trail xxxvi. 182 After a while, Amzi called out, ‘Oh, John’. (It was customary for Indians to call all white men ‘John’.). 1954 G. Lamming Emigrants i. 111 ‘'Ave 'alf pint o' bitter John?’ ‘My name aint John.’ 1993 B. Red Hat in R. Schukies Red Hat 68 My dad would say to the white man: ‘Hey John!’.. We thought everybody is named John. c. Chiefly North American regional (western), Australian, and New Zealand. Usually depreciative (now offensive). A Chinese person, esp. a man; (also occasionally) Chinese people regarded collectively. Cf. John Chinaman n. at Compounds 1a. Now rare (chiefly historical) and usually considered offensive.Cf. quot. 1818 at sense 2b. ΘΚΠ the world > people > nations > native or inhabitant of Asia > the Chinese > [noun] > native or inhabitant of China Cathayan?1520 Chinean1577 Son of Heaven1579 Chino1588 chinois1594 Chinese1606 Chinesianc1615 Chinaman1621 China1638 Chinist1654 Chinensian1655 pigtail1823 celestial1842 Johnny1844 coolie1849 John1853 Chinky1871 chow1872 Chink1880 monk1903 Pong1910 power point1986 1853 Alta California (San Francisco) 20 Apr. 2/2 The Mary Adams brought 118 ‘Johns’ from the terrestrial kingdom of heaven. 1859 Victoria (Brit. Columbia) Gaz. 22 Oct. in D. C. Lai Chinatowns (1988) 16 Two of the Johns intended ‘returning in the spring’, bringing their families of female Johns and demi-Johns with them. 1873 J. H. Beadle Undevel. West xvii. 314 Then come the apologists and claim for ‘John’ a score of virtues which he does not possess. 1903 Truth (Sydney) 4 Jan. 7/3 The lynx-eyed ‘Johns’ are engaged..while ‘yours truly’ and his fellows are ‘padding the hoof’. 1921 R. Watson Spoilers of Valley 310 John always was a better truck farmer anyway. 1948 P. Johnston Lost & Living Cities Calif. Gold Rush 11/1 The despised ‘Johns’ were permitted to pan gold in peace, provided they paid their foreign miners' tax when it was due. 1959 P. A. Lawlor Old Wellington Days 84 They were fierce competitors of ‘The Chows’ or ‘The Johns’ as the Chinese fruiterers were called. 3. Chiefly Australian, New Zealand, and U.S. A police officer or military police officer (esp. a male). Occasionally spec.: a detective. Cf. John Hop n., John Law n. at Compounds 1a, and johndarm n.Compare discussion in etymology section. ΘΚΠ society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman truncheon officer1708 runner1735 horny1753 nibbing-cull1775 nabbing-cull1780 police officer1784 police constable1787 policeman1788 scout1789 nabman1792 nabber1795 pig1811 Bow-street officer1812 nab1813 peeler1816 split1819 grunter1823 robin redbreast1824 bulky1828 raw (or unboiled) lobster1829 Johnny Darm1830 polis1833 crusher1835 constable1839 police1839 agent1841 johndarm1843 blue boy1844 bobby1844 bluebottle1845 copper1846 blue1848 polisman1850 blue coat1851 Johnny1851 PC1851 spot1851 Jack1854 truncheonist1854 fly1857 greycoat1857 cop1859 Cossack1859 slop1859 scuffer1860 nailerc1863 worm1864 Robert1870 reeler1879 minion of the law1882 ginger pop1887 rozzer1888 nark1890 bull1893 grasshopper1893 truncheon-bearer1896 John1898 finger1899 flatty1899 mug1903 John Dunn1904 John Hop1905 gendarme1906 Johnny Hop1908 pavement pounder1908 buttons1911 flat-foot1913 pounder1919 Hop1923 bogy1925 shamus1925 heat1928 fuzz1929 law1929 narker1932 roach1932 jonnop1938 grass1939 roller1940 Babylon1943 walloper1945 cozzer1950 Old Bill1958 cowboy1959 monaych1961 cozzpot1962 policeperson1965 woolly1965 Fed1966 wolly1970 plod1971 roz1971 Smokey Bear1974 bear1975 beast1978 woodentop1981 Five-O1983 dibble1990 Bow-street runner- 1898 Worker (Sydney) 8 Jan. 8/2 There was not a sign when the ‘Johns’, as the police are called in that neighbourhood, passed along. 1901 Westm. Gaz. 18 Sept. 8/2 ‘George Johns are sure to visit the old girl to see if anyone has got to her... Brake the cab then shift it again as the John will be sure to tell the porter of that.’.. Detective-sergeant Stevens said the word ‘Johns’ on the paper signified ‘detectives’. 1918 Chrons. N.Z.E.F. 22 Nov. 206 ‘Never mind about that,’ said the John—and dumped him in the cell. 1940 R. Chandler Farewell, my Lovely xxxix. 302 ‘The johns tied me to it?’ ‘I don't know.’ 1961 P. White Riders in Chariot xi. 380 ‘I'll fetch the johns in the mornin'!’ she shrieked. ‘Layin' into a white woman!’ 1982 R. Hall Just Relations 144 He took possession of the book... The johns'll get it if we leave it here. 2004 E. Weiner Drop Dead, my Lovely (2005) 207 I could sing to the johns but I'd be a happier American if you and I did a deal. 4. a. slang (originally U.S.). The (male) client of a prostitute. In early use also: a man who gives a woman money or gifts in return for, or in expectation of, sexual favours. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > living on earnings of prostitute > man who jock-gagger1809 fancy man1811 fancy-bloke1846 ponce1859 John1906 souteneur1906 Johnson1954 society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > frequenting prostitutes > one who > prostitute's client punk-master1612 John1906 trick1925 score1961 punter1965 1906 National Police Gaz. (U.S.) 28 July 3/1 Why, I had a John in here and he was trying to buy me a new dress, and I thought he was wanting to know where I lived. a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. vi. 154 A John's a sucker—a fellow that keeps a girl. 1953 W. S. Burroughs Junkie ii. 30 Mary was describing the techniques she used to get money from the ‘Johns’ who formed her principal source of revenue. 1972 New York 24 Apr. 38/3 Many working girls, when they are new in the city, spend at least a few months with a madam to meet the better johns. 2001 J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand lxxxii. 445 The truck men pimped. They signed johns up early. b. U.S. slang. A gullible or easily-fooled person, a dupe; esp. a potential victim of a swindle or confidence trick. Cf. mark n.¹ 26. ΚΠ 1908 K. McGaffey Sorrows of Show Girl viii. 92 Every time the Johns would fall, except in Milwaukee, and nobody ever got anything out of that town anyway. 1946 W. L. Gresham Nightmare Alley xi. 152 One live John and we're set. 1969 J. Crumley One to Count Cadence 237 You're obviously as hip as Richard Nixon, but you're good enough to fool these Johns. II. Uses of the simple personal name to refer to things. 5. A kind of pink (pink n.⁵ 1a). Frequently in plural. Also with distinguishing word, often describing the colour of the flower. Now only in sweet John n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > pinks or carnations gillyflower1517 carnation1538 clove gillyflower1538 incarnation1538 William1538 pink1566 John1572 Indian eye1573 sops-in-wine1573 sweet John1573 sweet-william1573 tuft gillyflower1573 Colmenier1578 small honesty1578 tol-me-neer1578 London tuft1597 maidenly pink1597 mountain pink1597 clove-carnation1605 musk-gillyflower1607 London pride1629 pride of London1629 maiden pink1650 Indian pink1664 Spanish pink1664 pheasant's eye pink1718 flake1727 flame1727 picotee1727 old man's head1731 painted lady1731 piquet1731 China-pink1736 clove1746 wild pink1753 lime-wort1777 matted thrift1792 clove-pink1837 Cheddar Pink1843 Dianthus1849 bunch pink1857 perpetual-flowering carnation1861 cliff pink1863 meadow pink1866 musk carnation1866 Jack1873 wax-pink1891 Malmaison1892 grenadin1904 1572 H. Platt Floures of Philos. Addr. to Rdr. The Iohn so sweete in shewe and smell, distincte by colours twaine, Aboute the borders of their beds in seemelie sighte remaine. 1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 478 Armeria alba. White Iohns. Armeria rubra. Red Iohns. 1710 W. Salmon Botanologia II. dccxxxvii. 1257/2 (heading) Of Williams and Johns Sweet, Garden and Wild. 1749 J. Barrow Dict. Medicum Universale Caryophyllus Sylvestris, offic. white johns, or white pinks. It grows in pastures and uncultivated places. 1904 R. P. Brotherston Bk. Carnation i. 4 A German species allied to D[ianthus] barbatus, and interesting as the supposed plant that was largely cultivated as long ago as the sixteenth century by the name of ‘Sweet John’, or simply ‘Johns’. 6. slang. The penis. Cf. John Thomas n. 2. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > sex organs > male sex organs > [noun] > penis weapona1000 tarsec1000 pintleOE cock?c1335 pillicock?c1335 yard1379 arrowa1382 looma1400 vergea1400 instrumentc1405 fidcocka1475 privya1500 virile member (or yard)?1541 prickc1555 tool1563 pillock1568 penis1578 codpiece1584 needle1592 bauble1593 dildo1597 nag1598 virility1598 ferret1599 rubigo?a1600 Jack1604 mentula1605 virge1608 prependent1610 flute1611 other thing1628 engine1634 manhood1640 cod1650 quillity1653 rammer1653 runnion1655 pego1663 sex1664 propagator1670 membrum virile1672 nervea1680 whore-pipe1684 Roger1689 pudding1693 handle?1731 machine1749 shaft1772 jock1790 poker1811 dickyc1815 Johnny?1833 organ1833 intromittent apparatus1836 root1846 Johnson1863 Peter1870 John Henry1874 dickc1890 dingusc1890 John Thomasc1890 old fellowc1890 Aaron's rod1891 dingle-dangle1893 middle leg1896 mole1896 pisser1896 micky1898 baby-maker1902 old man1902 pecker1902 pizzle1902 willy1905 ding-dong1906 mickey1909 pencil1916 dingbatc1920 plonkerc1920 Johna1922 whangera1922 knob1922 tube1922 ding1926 pee-pee1927 prong1927 pud1927 hose1928 whang1928 dong1930 putz1934 porkc1935 wiener1935 weenie1939 length1949 tadger1949 winkle1951 dinger1953 winky1954 dork1961 virilia1962 rig1964 wee-wee1964 Percy1965 meat tool1966 chopper1967 schlong1967 swipe1967 chode1968 trouser snake1968 ding-a-ling1969 dipstick1970 tonk1970 noonies1972 salami1977 monkey1978 langer1983 wanker1987 a1922 T. S. Eliot in C. Ricks Inventions of March Hare (1996) App. A. 314 O daughter dear daughter I think you are a fool To run against a man with a john like a mule. 1930 Lyra Ebriosa 10 Each man began to seek a place To sink his festive John. 1934 Neuphilol. Mitt. 35 130 Here [i.e. at public-school] his first linguistic experience will be with mumfordish and swear-words (e.g...john ‘penis’..). 1948 D. Ballantyne Cunninghams ii. xvi. 241 How often did the nurse find him with his old john lying limply? 1972 C. Murry Private View i. 33 The tip of old John brushed against the inside of my thigh. 7. slang (originally and chiefly U.S.). Usually with lower-case initial. A toilet, a lavatory.Compare earlier cuz-john n. and Johnny n. 5, and perhaps Sir John n. 2. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > privy or latrine > [noun] > water-closet or lavatory closet1496 water closet1736 water closet1747 throne room1787 W.C.1815 netty1825 convenience1841 Johnny1847 lavabo1852 restrooma1856 small room1858 cloakroom1865 lavatory1874 bathroom1883 toilet1886 can1900 place1902 lav1913 washroom1919 head1920 lavvy1922 dike1923 smallest room1930 John1931 khazi1932 loo1940 biffy1942 Wa1953 shitcan1954 commode1958 cludgie1961 1931 A. M. Lindbergh Let. 28 Sept. in Hour of Gold (1973) 196 A little boy going to the john. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 54 ‘You poor old bastard,’ I said to the Hoplite, as he sat there on my john. 1972 Last Whole Earth Catal. (Portola Inst.) 247/3 Every time you take a dump or a leak in a standard john, you flush five gallons of water out with your piddle. 1990 J. Wambaugh Golden Orange iv. 42 Her boyfriend or husband might be in the john. 2013 R. Yancey 5th Wave lxxviii. 396 I have to go to the john. Compounds C1. Preceding another word or phrase treated as a kind of surname, so as to form a name or nickname, often applied familiarly or contemptuously. a. Denoting a person of a particular type or (a personification of) an institution. † John-a-dogs n. Obsolete (probably) a dogwhipper.In quot. c1564 apparently a humorous extended use. ΚΠ c1564 T. Buckley Oxf. Libell in R. Hughey Arundel Harington MS (1960) II. 279 What newes Iohn a dogges what newes? [margin] Iohn a dogges one appoynted to carte whores. 1613 T. Jackson Eternall Truth Script. ii. xxviii. §5 Never to swerve from the beadle of beggars or John-a-dogs his determinations and resolutions in any point of logic, philosophy, or metaphysics. John-a-dreams n. (a generic name for) a person given to daydreaming or idle meditation; a dreamer, a fantasist. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > mental image, idea, or fancy > daydream or reverie > [noun] > one who daydreams musardc1330 John-a-dreams1603 air-monger1628 castle-builder1711 daydreamer1750 castle-hunter1752 Alnaschar1800 reverist1824 stargazer1843 Johnny Head-in-the-Air?1851 pipe-dreamer1899 head-in-air1932 Walter Mitty1947 Mitty1953 1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 594 I like to an asse and Iohn a Dreames. 1668 J. Ogilby Æsopic's xxviii. 70 Dull Earthen Clod, that stand'st like John a Dreams, O'r Rocks and Mountains Art will carry Streams. 1839 Court & Lady's Mag. Oct. 425/2 What muse ye on with such a John-a-dreams air? 1914 Canton (Ohio) Daily News 19 May 9/6 As for what you say happened on some steamer—why, you are John-a-Dreams. 2008 Independent (Nexis) 21 June 42 Every John-a-dreams is a tycoon or a second-hand diva today. † John-a-droyne n. Obsolete (meaning unknown.) [Perhaps a variant of John-a-dreams n., though this is first attested later.] ΚΠ 1562 J. Heywood Sixt Hundred Epigrammes lxxxviii, in Wks. sig. Ddiii^v Hogis head in hogstowne is no Iohn a droyne. 1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. P^v That poore Iohn a Droynes his man,..a great big-boand thresher. † John-a-nods n. Obsolete (historical and archaic in later use) (a generic name for) a person who is drowsy or falling asleep; (hence) a dull, inattentive, or stupid person. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > drowsiness > [noun] > one who is drowsy dormousea1568 drowsy-head1576 sleepy-head1577 John-a-nods1600 soporific1808 somnolent1841 somnivolent1884 drowser1887 1600 N. Breton Pasquils Passe 29 When Iohn a Noddes will be a Gentleman, Because his worship weares a velvet coate..I feare me Doomes day cannot be farre off. 1603 S. Harsnett Declar. Popish Impostures xxiii. 160 Hee would say The Apostle [sc. Saint Iohn] wrote like a good plaine Iohn a Nods. 1639 J. Taylor Iuniper Lect. xi. 94 For her loving Iohn a Nods lets her say and doe what she list. 1895 B. Carman in Bookman Apr. 202 ‘You have begun To mutter in your dreams,’ Said John-a-nods to Jock-a-dreams. 1901 J. H. McCarthy If I were King xii. 214 I have been John-a-Nods for the moment, sire; now I am Jack-a-Deeds again. † John Blunt n. Obsolete (perhaps) a generic name for a dull, stupid person; cf. Jack Blunt n. at Jack n.² Compounds 1b. ΚΠ ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 44 For all the buddis of Iohne Blunt, quhen he abone clymis. † John Cheese n. Obsolete rare (perhaps) a fool, an idiot; a contemptible person. ΚΠ a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 15 If thou be thrall to none of theise, Away good Peek goos, hens Iohn Cheese. John Chinaman n. usually depreciative (now dated and offensive) (a generic name for) a Chinese person (esp. a man); Chinese people collectively. ΚΠ 1818 Q. Rev. Jan. 315 The report of John Chinaman (so they familiarly called the interpreter) is too curious to be omitted. 1865 Dunedin Punch 16 Sept. 119 John Chinaman is to immigrate here. 1869 J. R. Browne Adventures Apache Country 308 John Chinamen, with long tails rolled up on the backs of their heads, running distractedly through the crowd in search of their lost bundles. 1933 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Mar. 10 Old John Chinaman, patient, hardworking, scrupulously honest. 2007 Spectator 17 Mar. 22/1 If John Chinaman can't beat QPR in a scrap, then by my reckoning Taiwan is safe as houses and we could probably retake Hong Kong in half an hour. John Citizen n. (a name for) a hypothetical average or ordinary man, esp. considered as a member of the community; average or ordinary people collectively. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > man > [noun] > ordinary or average man Richard Roe1593 Tom Stiles1681 John Doe1756 the man in the street1831 the next man1848 Everyman1901 the man on the Clapham omnibus1903 slob1910 John Citizen1918 average Joe1940 Joe Blow1941 Joe Public1942 Joe Doakes1943 Joe Soap1943 Joe Bloggs1969 Joe Sixpack1972 everyguy1976 1918 Times of India 21 Oct. 11/2 The caucuses are set against it—but John Citizen is in favour of it. 1931 T. E. Gregory in W. Rose Outl. Mod. Knowl. 626 If John Citizen buys a house out of his own savings, [etc.]. 1965 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 13 July (1970) 296 I would depend upon that man if I were John Citizen looking on from my living room. 2014 Malta Independent (Nexis) 18 Oct. What John Citizen is demanding from our Prime Minister and the rest of the Labour Government now is less waffle and more clear action. John Company n. now historical (a personification of or humorous name for) the (English or British) East India Company. [After Dutch Jan Kompanie, Jan Compagnie, a name for the Dutch East India Company, and subsequently the Dutch government, in the Dutch East Indies. The Dutch name probably arises from the use of the personal name as a generic, as in English (see sense 1), the use being transferred to a corporate entity referred to familiarly as though an individual. The following probably shows an (early) after-the-fact rationalization of the name: 1785 G. Forster tr. A. Sparrman Voy. Cape Good Hope II. 21 The ignorant Hottentots and Indians not having been able to form any idea of the Dutch East-India Company,..the Dutch from the very beginning in India, politically gave out the company for one individual powerful prince, by the christian name of Jan or John... On this account I ordered my interpreter to say farther, that we were the children of Jan Company, who had sent us out to view this country. ] ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > business affairs > a business or company > [noun] > companies involved in specific business > trading in specific place company1599 East India Company1608 South Sea Company1708 EIC1730 John Company1782 north-west1837 1782 Parker's Gen. Advertiser 3 June The neglect of Messieurs North and the Directors of John Company. 1832 F. Marryat Newton Forster III. iv. 46 John Company will some day find out the truth. 1886 E. Lynn Linton Paston Carew ii He was offered a position in India, in the service of John Company, under whose flag, as we know, the pagoda-tree was worth shaking. 1920 N. L. Hallward (title) William Bolts, a Dutch Adventurer Under John Company. 2010 M. Dillon China (2012) ii. 31 It was Britain's East India Company,..or ‘John Company’ as it was known familiarly, that played the most important role in the opening of China to Western trade. † John Dringle n. Obsolete (perhaps) a fool, a simpleton. ΚΠ 1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe To Rdr. sig. A4 O but sayth another Iohn Dringle, there is a booke of the Red Herrings taile, printed foure Termes since that made this stale. c1600 Return: 1st Pt. iii. i, in Three Parnassus Plays (1949) 178 Euerie Iohn Dringle can make a booke in the commendacions of temperance, againste the seuen deadlie sinns. † John-hold-my-staff n. Obsolete (a generic name for) a servile or put-upon attendant; cf. Jack-hold-my-staff n. at Jack n.² Phrases 3. ΘΚΠ society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > servile John-hold-my-staff1542 Jack-hold-my-staff1625 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes i. f. 132 If thou wouldest haue washed herbes for thyne own dyner, thou shouldest not in this maner haue been a Ihon hold my-staf to Dionysius. 1605 N. Breton I pray you be not Angrie sig. B4 I should stand like Iohn hold my Staffe, while they take their pleasure. 1694 Fifteen Comforts Rash Marriage (ed. 4) vi. 45 The poor Fop at Home is like John Hold-my-staff, she must Rule, Govern, Insult, Brawl. John Hop n. [rhyming slang for cop n.⁵, although compare sense 3] Australian and New Zealand slang a (male) police officer or military police officer; cf. johnop n., Johnny Hop n. at Johnny n. Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman truncheon officer1708 runner1735 horny1753 nibbing-cull1775 nabbing-cull1780 police officer1784 police constable1787 policeman1788 scout1789 nabman1792 nabber1795 pig1811 Bow-street officer1812 nab1813 peeler1816 split1819 grunter1823 robin redbreast1824 bulky1828 raw (or unboiled) lobster1829 Johnny Darm1830 polis1833 crusher1835 constable1839 police1839 agent1841 johndarm1843 blue boy1844 bobby1844 bluebottle1845 copper1846 blue1848 polisman1850 blue coat1851 Johnny1851 PC1851 spot1851 Jack1854 truncheonist1854 fly1857 greycoat1857 cop1859 Cossack1859 slop1859 scuffer1860 nailerc1863 worm1864 Robert1870 reeler1879 minion of the law1882 ginger pop1887 rozzer1888 nark1890 bull1893 grasshopper1893 truncheon-bearer1896 John1898 finger1899 flatty1899 mug1903 John Dunn1904 John Hop1905 gendarme1906 Johnny Hop1908 pavement pounder1908 buttons1911 flat-foot1913 pounder1919 Hop1923 bogy1925 shamus1925 heat1928 fuzz1929 law1929 narker1932 roach1932 jonnop1938 grass1939 roller1940 Babylon1943 walloper1945 cozzer1950 Old Bill1958 cowboy1959 monaych1961 cozzpot1962 policeperson1965 woolly1965 Fed1966 wolly1970 plod1971 roz1971 Smokey Bear1974 bear1975 beast1978 woodentop1981 Five-O1983 dibble1990 Bow-street runner- 1905 N.Z. Truth 12 Aug. 4 An incident occurred which..robbed John Hop of his glory. 1918 Chrons. N.Z.E.F. 19 July 280 In view of the fact that the camp ‘John Hops’ were off duty. 1933 Bulletin (Sydney) 31 May 12/3 Even on beat duty a John Hop..can cogitate. 1965 G. McInnes Road to Gundagai xi. 187 Then we would climb the steps, leaving our bicycles chained to a lamp post (courtesy of John Hops). 1981 G. Cross George & Widda-Woman 51 A couple of John-Hops arrived to investigate the accident. 2015 Sun Herald (Sydney) (Nexis) 15 Mar. 34 Without new laws to curb data use and abuse, the John Hops will be powerless to protect us. † John Indifferent n. Obsolete (a name for) a person who is neutral or unconcerned; an apathetic person. ΚΠ 1590 R. Harvey Plaine Percevall sig. B3 If I vse indifferency, call me not Iohn Indifferent. 1614 T. Freeman Rubbe & Great Cast ii. sig. K2 Thy wit hath beene an honest Innocent, A Naturall, a Iohn-Indifferent. 1642 T. Jordan Rules to know Royall King 3 He must needs be a coward that is a Neuter, (a Iohn-indifferent). John Law n. [compare sense 3] U.S. a (male) police officer; the police or forces of the law considered collectively; cf. sense 3. ΘΚΠ society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] police1798 police force1820 constabulary1837 the force1851 John Law1903 button1921 fuzz1929 law1929 Babylon1943 monaych1961 filth1967 heat1967 Bill1969 Old Bill1970 beast1978 blues and twos1985 dibble1990 po-po1994 1903 J. London in Ainslee's Oct. 79/2 ‘I am a free downtrodden American citizen, and no man shall say my time is his.’ ‘Save John Law,’ he chuckled. 1925 Amer. Speech 1 151/2 ‘Dick’ and ‘bull’ and ‘John Law’ have become established as names for the police, while ‘fink’ and ‘stool’ and ‘fly-dick’ denote the plain-clothes men. 1984 M. A. Jarman Dancing nightly in Tavern 14 They await the ghouls from the pre-fabs. John Law with his flashing baubles and squeaking holster. 2002 Weekly World News 22 Jan. 5/3 Buy one of those magnetic blue or red lights used by rent-a-cops... John Law will think you're a fellow traveller. † John Long n. Obsolete the name of (the type of) an untrustworthy messenger whose messages are never delivered or take an inordinately long time; originally and chiefly in John Long the Carrier.Cf. Tom Long n. at Tom n.¹ Compounds 1b(b). ΚΠ 1560 J. Heywood Fourth Hundred Epygrams sig. Bv Of John longe the carier... John longe by this length is longe to declare. 1651 W. Leach Propositions 17 The Creditors..only expect their money by John Long the Carrier, when he cometh. a1796 S. Pegge Two Coll. Derbicisms (1896) 137 John Long, Carrier; spoken of a tardy messenger. John-of-all-trades n. now somewhat rare a person able to turn his or her hand to many different types of work; = Jack of all trades n. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > [noun] > odd-job or handyman factotum1562 Magister factotum1573 Johannes factotum1592 Jack of all trades1618 Tom of all trades1631 John-of-all-trades1639 handyman1742 odd man1743 gimcrack1766 Jack of all work1773 orraman1802 bottle washer1835 Jack1836 odd-jobs man1859 roustabout1862 hob-jobber1873 rouster1882 odd-jobber1886 knockabout1889 orra-loon1895 rouser1896 trouncer1896 leatherneck1898 loppy1898 rouseabout1901 bluetongue2002 1639 J. Mayne Citye Match ii. v. 19 You Mungrill, You Iohn of all Trades. 1659 Maze 43 There is..a peeking cozening Gipsey, a John of all Trades, having sojourn'd in as many Shops, as ever Proteus took upon him Shapes. 1672 R. Wild Let. Declar. Liberty Conscience 3 A Good King..who sees no reason for putting down Haberdashers, and Johns of all Trades. 1899 Greensburg (Indiana) Standard 13 Jan. Our town is a lively place this winter; a saw mill, a lamp-wick peddler, a fur buyer, a Wild Bill, a lively Ben and a John-of-all-trades. 2008 N. M. Roberts Pointe & Shoot 6 I opened my eyes to see Marlys, my friend, dance mom, and general john-of-all-trades. You name it, she did it at the studio. † John-out-of-office n. Obsolete a person who is out of work or no longer in office; = Jack out of office n. at Jack n.² Phrases 3. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > one who does not work > [noun] > one who has been put out of office Jack out of officea1530 quondam1535 Jack out of service?1541 John-out-of-office1576 dischargee1894 1576 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (rev. ed.) II. 2002/1 Who now (God be thanked) is Iohn out of office, and glad of his neighbours good wyll. 1848 Douglas Jerrold's Shilling Mag. 7 402 ‘The Elm’ murmurs a Croaker—not a John out of office—remembering the fancy of poor Thomas Hood..where the Poet played with Death, [etc.]. John Thomson's man n. [origin uncertain; perhaps originally Joan Thomson's man, although such a form is not attested] Scottish* (now chiefly historical and rare) a man who is dominated or ruled by his wife; a henpecked husband. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > married man > [noun] > husband > henpecked husband John Thomson's man?a1513 Tom Tiler1582 henpeck1711 jerry-sneak1820 monkey-man1840 a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 197 God gif ȝe war Iohne Thomsounis man. 1637 R. Monro Exped. Scots Regim. ii. 30 Some will alleage, he was Iohn Thomsons man. I answer, it was all one, if shee was good: for all stories esteeme them happie, that can live together man and wife, without contention. 1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem i. 18 The imperious Roxalan, Made the great Turk John Thomsons man. Another Warriour, all his life Was also ruled by his Wife. 1716 R. Wodrow Analecta (1842) II. 312 Speaking of Samson, he called him ‘John Thompson's man’. 1816 W. Scott Old Mortality ix, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 178 ‘The de'il's in the wife,’ said Cuddie; ‘d'ye think I am to be John Tamson's man, and maistered by women a' the days o' my life?’ 1972 R. Crichton Camerons ii. xiv. 231 Aye, he's a John Thomson's man the now. † John Trott n. Obsolete (a generic name for) a simple, unsophisticated, or dull man; a simpleton, an oaf; also attributive, designating something ordinary, commonplace, or undistinguished.In quot. 1676 the name of a character in a play. In quot. 1712 the name of a fictitious correspondent. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > stupid person, dolt, blockhead > lout, oaf, booby > [noun] lubber1362 looby1377 howfing?a1513 slouch?1518 bowberta1522 knuckylbonyarda1529 lob1533 lout1548 patch1549 hoballa1556 lilburnea1556 lobcocka1556 chub1558 hick1565 lourd1579 peasant1581 clown1583 lubbard1586 lumberer1593 lump1597 blooterc1600 boobyc1600 lob-coat1604 hoy1607 bacon-brainsa1635 alcatote1638 oaf1638 kelf1665 brute1670 dowf1722 gawky1724 chuckle1731 chuckle-head1731 John Trott1753 stega1823 lummoxa1825 gawk1837 country jakea1854 guffin1862 galoot1866 stot1877 lobster1896 mutt1900 palooka1920 schlub1950 1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode iii. iii. 53 Sir Fop. There's one damn'd English blockhead Among 'em... Loveit. What's your Name? Footm. John Trott, Madam! 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 296. ⁋7 Some..would advise me to leave it [sc. Dancing] off, withall that I make my self ridiculous... Your humble servant, John Trott.] 1753 S. Foote Englishman in Paris Epil. The meerest John Trot in a Week you shall zee Bien poli bien frizé tout à fait un Marquis. 1762 G. Colman Musical Lady ii. i. 17 Our travelling gentry..return from the tour of Europe as mere English boors as they went—John Trot still. 1798 C. Smith Young Philosopher I. 207 I have been tired of such John Trott sort of prosing ever since I was ten years old. 1839 Richmond County (N.Y.) Mirror 15 June 164/3 Each yankee village can boast a John Trott, The offspring of Freedom; though simple, supreme. b. Denoting an animal, plant, or thing. John Barleycorn n. (also Sir John Barleycorn) (a personification of) barley, or of alcoholic drink made from barley.Originating in, or popularized by, ballads and folk songs about a character with this name, of which numerous versions exist (as that cited in quot. c1625). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > [noun] drink1042 liquor1340 bousea1350 cidera1382 dwale1393 sicera1400 barrelc1400 strong drinkc1405 watera1475 swig1548 tipple1581 amber1598 tickle-brain1598 malt pie1599 swill1602 spicket1615 lap1618 John Barleycornc1625 pottle1632 upsy Englisha1640 upsy Friese1648 tipplage1653 heartsease1668 fuddle1680 rosin1691 tea1693 suck1699 guzzlea1704 alcohol1742 the right stuff1748 intoxicant1757 lush1790 tear-brain1796 demon1799 rum1799 poison1805 fogram1808 swizzle1813 gatter1818 wine(s) and spirit(s)1819 mother's milkc1821 skink1823 alcoholics1832 jough1834 alky1844 waipiro1845 medicine1847 stimulant1848 booze1859 tiddly1859 neck oil1860 lotion1864 shrab1867 nose paint1880 fixing1882 wet1894 rabbit1895 shicker1900 jollop1920 mule1920 giggle-water1929 rookus juice1929 River Ouse1931 juice1932 lunatic soup1933 wallop1933 skimish1936 sauce1940 turps1945 grog1946 joy juice1960 the world > food and drink > food > corn, cereals, or grain > [noun] > barley bere corneOE bereOE barley1124 John Barleycornc1625 c1625 (title) A pleasant new Ballad..Of the bloody murther of Sir John Barley-corne. 1648 J. Taylor (title) A Brown Dozen of Drunkards..Whipt, and shipt..For their abusing of Mr. Malt the bearded son, and Barley-broth the brainlesse daughter of Sir John Barley-corne. 1733 Disc. Prepar., Preserv., & Restoration Malt-liquors 86 This Abuse of Sir John Barley-corn increases the Lawyer's Gain, the Physician's Visits, Patients Fees, [etc.]. 1786 R. Burns Poems 23 John Barleycorn, Thou king o' grain! 1826 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes Scotl. 10 A drunkard..fearless in the strength of John Barleycorn. 1851 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 3 Oct. Having been paying his respects to John Barleycorn rather too freely in the course of the evening. 1913 J. London John Barleycorn i. 4 When the women get the ballot, they will vote for prohibition... It is the wives..who will drive the nails into the coffin of John Barleycorn. 1974 Pioneer (Bemidji, Minnesota) 12 July 2/4 Everyone knows that Sir John Barleycorn can lead a person from the path of righteousness. 2015 Sunday Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 5 Apr. 14 Those existential journeys which so few Irishmen have even contemplated without the companionship of one John Barleycorn. John Collins n. a cocktail typically made of gin, lime or lemon juice, sugar, and soda water; a similar cocktail made with a base of whisky in place of gin (cf. Collins n.¹, Tom Collins n.). [The cocktail is said to have been invented by John Collins, head waiter at Limmer's Hotel and Coffee House, Conduit Street, London, probably in the first half of the 19th cent.] ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > cocktail > [noun] > other cocktails balderdash1611 twist1699 Coke-upon-Littleton1740 julep1787 camphor julep1788 switchel1790 sling1792 mint sling1804 mint julep1809 swizzle1813 smash1850 rattlesnake1862 sour1862 Collins1865 John Collins1865 split1882 rickey1893 Picon punch1900 stinger1901 Bronx1906 Jack Rose1912 Pimm's1912 orange blossom1919 Americano1928 Merry Widow1930 snowball1930 atomic cocktail1941 Sazarac cocktail1941 grasshopper1949 Bellini1955 saketini1959 wallbanger1970 caipirinha1973 Long Island ice tea1978 Alabama slammer1980 Long Island iced tea1981 1865 Australasian 25 Feb. 8/7 That most angelic of drinks for a hot climate—a John Collins... Take a bottle of sodawater, a wineglassful of gin, a lump of sugar, a piece of ice, with a slice of lemon—mix well together. 1913 R. Brooke Let. 13 Aug. in Coll. Poems (1918) p. lxxxvi I believe I could do a deal in Real Estate,..over a John Collins, with a clean-shaven Yankee. 1962 Cocktails (Cunard Line) Tom Collins 3/-. John Collins 3/-. Rum Collins 2/9. 2009 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 2 Aug. (Styles section) 7/5 We're talking, of course, about a family of drinks: the gin-based Tom Collins and its lesser-known brethren, the John Collins (bourbon) and Charley Collins (rum). John Down n. Newfoundland (now rare) the northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > order Procellariiformes > [noun] > member of family Procellariidae (petrel) > member of genus Fulmarus (fulmar) noddy1663 mollymawk1694 fulmar petrel1698 malduck1803 John Down1813 malmarsh1831 molly1857 mollyhawk1880 1813 G. Montagu Suppl. Ornithol. Dict. at Fulmar Here hangs I John Down for ever, That often crossed the bank for liver, Now to my sorrow and great surprise, Here I hang an anatomize. 1852 Arctic Misc. 10 On the banks of Newfoundland, where this bird is known by the name of ‘John Down’, it attends the fishing vessels for the offal of the cod fish. 1957 W. L. McAtee Folk-names Canad. Birds 4 Fulmar..John Down (Sailor's name, significance unknown. Nfld.). John-go-to-bed-at-noon n. (also †John-that-goes-to-bed-at-noon) any of several plants having flowers that close at midday, esp. the goat's beard Tragopogon pratensis and scarlet pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis; cf. earlier go-to-bed-at-noon n. at go v. Compounds 3, and jack-go-to-bed-at-noon n. at Jack n.² Phrases 4. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Compositae (composite plants) > [noun] > goat's beard goat's beardc1400 bucks-beard1551 Joseph's flower1578 Tragopogon1578 noontide1597 John-go-to-bed-at-noon1759 sleep-at-noon1779 nap-at-noon1828 jack-go-to-bed-at-noon1847 1759 R. Pultney in Philos. Trans. 1758 (Royal Soc.) 50 508 Our country people long since called it John-go-to-bed-at-noon. 1827 J. Clare Shepherd's Cal. 48 Which weeders see, and talk of rain; And boys, that mark them shut so soon, Call ‘John that goes bed at noon’. 1936 C. Sandburg People, Yes xciii. 244 John-go-to-bed-at-noon is the goat's beard plant shutting itself at twelve o'clock and show again only when the next day's sun is out. 1991 R. Strong Celebration of Gardens 149 Many plants have received names indicatory of their habits; thus Four-o'clocks, Morning Glory, Evening Glory, John-go-to-bed-at-noon, [etc.]. John Roscoe n. U.S. slang (now dated and humorous) a handgun; cf. roscoe n. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > small-arm > [noun] handgun1411 piece1575 small arms1685 popper1751 shooting-iron1775 pelter1827 squib1839 shooter1840 shooting-stick1845 Betsy1856 smoke-wagon1891 rod1903 gat1904 belt gun1905 roscoe1914 smoke-stick1927 heat1928 heater1929 smoke-pole1929 John Roscoe1932 1932 D. Runyon in Collier's 11 June 32/2 My friend outs with a large John Roscoe. 1973 A. S. Neill Neill! Neill! Orange Peel! (rev. ed.) ii. 130 The USA.., where anyone can carry a gun, or, to be topical, should I say a Betsy or a John Roscoe? 1996 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 3 Feb. 43 The movies always make armed robbery look too easy. You present the old John Roscoe, state your demands clearly and succinctly, [etc.]. John Scott n. Angling (now chiefly historical) a kind of artificial fly used in salmon fishing; cf. Jock Scott n. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > means of attracting fish > [noun] > artificial fly > types of moor flylOE drake-flya1450 dub-flya1450 dun cut1496 dun fly1496 louper1496 red fly1616 moorish fly1635 palmer1653 palmer fly1653 red hackle1653 red palmer1653 shell-fly1653 orange fly1662 blackfly1669 dun1676 dun hackle1676 hackle1676 mayfly1676 peacock fly1676 thorn-tree fly1676 turkey-fly1676 violet-fly1676 whirling dun1676 badger fly1681 greenfly1686 moorish brown1689 prime dun1696 sandfly1700 grey midge1724 whirling blue1747 dun drake?1758 death drake1766 hackle fly1786 badger1787 blue1787 brown-fly1787 camel-brown1787 spinner1787 midge1799 night-fly1799 thorn-fly1799 turkey1799 withy-fly1799 grayling fly1811 sun fly1820 cock-a-bondy1835 brown moth1837 bunting-lark fly1837 governor1837 water-hen hackle1837 Waterloo fly1837 coachman1839 soldier palmer1839 blue jay1843 red tag1850 canary1855 white-tip1856 spider1857 bumble1859 doctor1860 ibis1863 Jock Scott1866 eagle1867 highlander1867 jay1867 John Scott1867 judge1867 parson1867 priest1867 snow-fly1867 Jack Scott1874 Alexandra1875 silver doctor1875 Alexandra fly1882 grackle1894 grizzly queen1894 heckle-fly1897 Zulu1898 thunder and lightning1910 streamer1919 Devon1924 peacock1950 1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling x. 332 (John Scott.)..is a very tasty-looking fly. 1882 J. M. Coles Summer Traveling in Iceland x. 145 I will here mention some of the most killing flies for these waters... They are as follows:—Popham, John Scott, Silver doctor, Childers and Butcher. 2012 M. Radencich Classic Salmon Fly Patterns 131/1 (heading) John Scott. C2. As the second element in compounds. See apple-john n., bad-john n., Blue John n., Cheap John n. at cheap adj., adv., and n.² Compounds, herb John n., Poor John n., etc. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1392
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