John-a-Nokes
noun
variants or John-a-Noakes
ˌjänəˈnōks
archaic
: a party to legal proceedings whose true name is unknown
as willing to plead for John-a-Nokes as for the first noble of the land
Sir Walter Scott
compare john-a-stiles Sir Walter Scott
Word History
Etymology
alteration of earlier John at Noke, from the name John + at Noke, probably from Middle English atten ok at the oak tree