Jerry Sneak, a hen-pecked husband,- -a character in the Mayor of Garret. Also, a stealer of watches.

Jerusalem pony, a donkey.

Jessie, "to give a person JESSIE," to beat him soundly. See GAS.

Jew fencer, a Jew street salesman.

Jew's eye, a popular simile for anything valuable. Probably a corruption of the Italian, GIOJE; French, JOAILLE, a jewel. In ancient times, when a king was short of cash, he generally issued orders for so many JEWS' EYES, or equivalent sums of money. The Jews preferred paying the ransom, although often very heavy. It is notorious that in this country the order often went forth to draw Jews' teeth in the event of their refusing to contribute so much to the Exchequer. A probable idea is, that as a Jew's teeth brought in so much money, the value of a JEW'S EYE must be something fabulous. Possibly, also, from the lex talionis so strongly believed in by Jews,-an eye for an eye, and nothing less. The term is used by Shakspeare.

Jezebel, a showily-dressed woman of suspected character; derived, of course, from 2 Kings ix. 30, but applied in this sense from the time of the Puritans. Also, a hot-tempered female.

Jib, a first-year man.-Dublin University.

Jib, or JIBBER, a horse that starts or shrinks. Shakspeare uses it in the sense of a worn-out horse.

Jib, the face, or a person's expression; "the cut of his JIB," ie., his peculiar appearance. That sail of a ship, which in position and shape, corresponds to the nose on a person's face.-Sea. A vessel is often known by the cut of the JIB sail; hence the popular phrase, "to know a man by the cut of his JIB."

Jibb, the tongue.-Gipsy and Hindoo. (Tramps' term.) Thence extended to mean language.

Jiffy, "in a JIFFY," in a moment.

Jigger, a door; "dub the JIGGER," shut the door. Ancient cant, GYGER. In billiards, the bridge or rest is often termed the JIGGER. Also, the curtain of a theatre. JIGGER has many meanings, the word being applied to any small mechanical contrivance. Printers use the

word for a little machine which guides the eye when copy is minute. Jigger, a secret still for the manufacture of illicit spirits.

Jigger, "I'm JIGGERED if you will," a common form of mild swearing.

See SNIGGER.

Jigger-dubber, a term applied to a gaoler or turnkey.

Jiggot, o' mutton, a leg of mutton. From Fr. GIGOT.
Jilt, a crowbar or house-breaking implement.

Jingo, "by JINGO," a common form of oath, said to be a corruption of
ST. GINGOULPH. Vide Halliwell.

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Jo, Scotticism for a man or lover. As "John Anderson, my JO, John." Job, a JOB lot," otherwise called a "sporting lot," any miscellaneous goods purchased at a cheap rate, or to be sold a bargain. Frequently

used to conceal the fact of their being stolen, or otherwise dishonestly obtained. Job, a short piece of work, a prospect of employment. Johnson describes JOB as a low word, without etymology. It is, and was, however, a cant word; and a JOB, two centuries ago, was an arranged robbery. Even at the present day it is mainly confined to the streets, in the sense of employment for a short time. Amongst undertakers a JOB signifies a funeral; "to do a JOB," conduct any one's funeral; "by the JOB," ie., piece-work, as opposed to time-work. A JOB in political phraseology is a Government office or contract, obtained by secret influence or favouritism. Any unfair arrangement is now called a JOB. Job, a sudden blow, as a JOB in the eye." Also used as a verb, "I'll

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JOB this here knife in your ribs."

Jobation, a chiding, a reprimand, a trial of the hearer's patience.
Jobbery, the arrangement of jobs, or unfair business proceedings.

Job's comfort, reproof instead of consolation.

Job's comforter, one who brings news of additional misfortunes. Both these words are of Biblical origin.

Job's turkey, "as poor as JOB'S TURKEY," as thin and as badly fed as that ill-conditioned and imaginary bird.

Jocteleg, a shut-up knife. Corruption of Jacques de Liège, a famous

cutler.

Joe, a too marvellous tale, a lie, or a stale joke. Abbreviated from JOE MILLER. The full name is occasionally used, as in the phrase "I don't see the JOE MILLER of it," ie., I don't perceive the wit you intend, or I don't see the fun of doing it,-whatever may have been the request. Joey, a fourpenny piece. The term is derived (like BOBBY from Sir Robert Peel) from Joseph Hume. The explanation is thus given in Hawkins's History of the Silver Coinage of England :—

"These pieces are said to have owed their existence to the pressing instance of Mr. Hume, from whence they, for some time, bore the nickname of JOEYS. As they were very convenient to pay short cab fares, the hon. M. P. was extremely unpopular with the drivers, who frequently received only a groat where otherwise they would have received a sixpence without any demand for change."

The term, therefore, was originated by the London cabmen, who have invented many other popular phrases. Fancy offering a modern hansom cabman a JOEY!

Jog-trot, a slow but regular trot, or pace.

Jogul, to play up, at cards or other game. Spanish, JUGAR.

John Blunt, a straightforward, honest, outspoken man.

Johnny, half-a-glass of whisky.—Irish.

Johnny Darbies, a nickname for policemen, an evident corruption of the French GENSDARMES. Also, a term applied to handcuffs.-See

DARBIES.

Johnny Raw, a newly-enlisted soldier.

John Orderly, the signal to shorten the performance at a show. Whenever the master, who remains on the platform outside to take

the money and regulate the performance, desires to refill the booth, he pokes his head inside and shouts, "Is JOHN ORDERLY there?" The actors instantly cut the piece short, the curtain falls, and the spectators are bundled out at the back, to make room for the fresh audience. According to tradition, JOHN ORDERLY was a noted showman, who taught this move to the no less noted Richardson. This is like the old story of the publican who used to call out to his waiter, "A pot of ale, Robert," when he wished his customers to be served with the best; but "A pot of ale, Bob," when they had been drinking long enough not to distinguish good stuff from the bad the latter order meant. One day after calling for Bob many times, he reluctantly, at the request of a visitor, tasted the ale, and found it was the best. Rushing out immediately afterwards, and calling for Bob with all his voice, he was answered by his wife, who said, "Why, Bob's been out these three hours."

John Thomas, a generic for "flunkeys,"-more especially footmen with large calves and fine bushy whiskers.

Jolly, a Royal Marine.-See HORSE MARINE.

Jolly, a word of praise, or favourable notice; "chuck Harry a JOLLY, Bill," i.e., go and praise up his goods, or buy of him, and speak well of the article, that the crowd standing around his stall may think it a good opportunity for laying out their money. This is called JOLLYING. Chuck a JOLLY," lit. translated, is, throw "a shout" or "good word." Jolly, to abuse or vituperate, sometimes to "bear up" or "bonnet." To JOLLY a man often means to give him a piece of one's mind. To JOLLY "for" any one is another phase of the business mentioned in the foregoing paragraph.

Jomer, a sweetheart, or favourite girl. See BLOWER,

Jonnick, right, correct, proper. Said of a person or thing.

Jordan, a chamberpot. To throw the contents of a chamberpot over any one is to christen him.

Jorum, a capacious vessel from which food is eaten, as broth or stew. Joskin, a countryman.

Jossop, the syrup or juice in a fruit pie or pudding. Also, sauce or gravy. -School.

Jow, be off, be gone immediately. If the word Jehanum be added, it forms a peremptory order to go to a place unmentionable to ears polite.-Anglo-Indian. Our phrase, "Go to Jericho," is probably a modification of the Jehanum business.

Judas, a deceitful person; JUDAS-HAIRED, red-haired, deceitful. It is generally believed that JUDAS ISCARIOT was red-haired. Painters seem to have accepted this idea, with modifications as to the exact amount of colour.

Jug, a prison of any kind. Contraction of "stone jug."

Julep, one of a set of drinks peculiar to America. Generally prepared

with mint, and called a MINT-JULEP. Originally JULEP was a pleasant

liquid, in which nauseous medicines were taken. Its literal meaning
is rosewater, and it is derived from the Arabic.

Jump, to seize, or rob; to "JUMP a man," to pounce upon him, and
either rob or maltreat him; "to JUMP a house," to rob it.
Jumped-up, conceited, arrogant, setting full value on oneself.
Jump-up-behind, to endorse an accommodation-bill.
Juniper, gin. Derivation obvious.

Junk, salt beef.-See OLD HORSE.

Juwaub, literally, in Hindostanee, an answer; but in Anglo-Indian slang signifying a refusal. If an officer asks for leave and is refused, he is said to be JUWAUBED; if a gentleman unsuccessfully proposes for the hand of a lady, he is said to have got the JUWAUB.-Anglo-Indian. Karibat, food, literally rice and curry; the staple dish of both natives and Europeans in India.-Anglo-Indian. Keel-hauling, a good thrashing or mauling, rough treatment,-from the old nautical custom of punishing offenders by throwing them overboard with a rope attached, and hauling them up from under the ship's keel. See full description of this barbarous practice in Marryat's Snarleyyow. Keep a pig, an Oxford University phrase, which means to have a lodger. A man whose rooms contain two bedchambers has sometimes, when his college is full, to allow the use of one of them to a Freshman, who is called under these circumstances a PIG. The original occupier is then said to KEEP A PIG.

Keep it up, to prolong a debauch, or the occasion of a rejoicing,-a metaphor drawn from the game of shuttlecock. People suffering from the effects of drink are said to have been KEEPING IT UP.-Grose. Kelter, coin, money. Probably from GELT.

Ken, a house.—Ancient cant. KHAN, Gipsy and Oriental.

* *All slang and cant words which end in KEN, such as SPIELKEN, SPINIKEN, or BOOZINGKEN, refer to houses, and are mainly of Gipsy origin.

Kennedy, a poker; to "give KENNEDY" is to strike or kill with a poker. A St. Giles's term, so given from a man of that name being killed by a poker.

Kent rag, or CLOUT, a cotton handkerchief.

Kervorten, a Cockneyism for QUARTERN or quarter-pint measure. "KERVORTEN and three houts," a quartern of liquor and glasses, each holding a third of the quantity.

Ketch, or JACK KETCH, the popular name for a public hangman; derived from a person of that name who officiated in the reign of Charles II. -See Macaulay's History of England.

Kettle of fish, a mess or muddle of any kind. As, "Here's a pretty KETTLE OF FISH!"

Key of the street, an imaginary instrument said to be possessed by any one locked out of doors.

Kibosh, nonsense, stuff, humbug; "it's all KIBOSH," i.e., palaver or nonsense; to "put on the KIBOSH," to run down, slander, degrade,

&c.

To put the KIBOSH on anything is, latterly, to put an effectual end or stop to it. Kick, a moment; "I'll be there in a KICK," i.e., in a moment. Kick, a pocket; Gaelic, CUACH, a bowl, a nest; Scotch, QUAIGH. Kick, a sixpence ; two and a KICK," two shillings and sixpence. Kick the bucket, to die.-Norfolk. According to Forby, a metaphor taken from the descent of a well or mine, which is of course absurd. The Rev. E. S. Taylor supplies the following note from his MS. additions to the work of the East-Anglian lexicographer:

"The allusion is to the way in which a slaughtered pig is hung up-viz., by passing the ends of a bent piece of wood behind the tendons of the hind legs, and so suspending it to a hook in a beam above. This piece of wood is locally termed a BUCKET, and so by a coarse metaphor the phrase came to signify to die." Another correspondent says the real signification of this phrase is to commit suicide by hanging, from a method planned and carried out by an ostler at an inn on the Great North Road. Standing on a bucket, he tied himself up to a beam in the stable; he then KICKED THE BUCKET away from under his feet, and in a few seconds was dead. The natives of the West Indies have converted the expression into "kickeraboo."

Kick over the traces, to be over-extravagant. Any one who has come to grief by fast living is said to have KICKED OVER THE TRACES. Kick up, a noise or disturbance.

Kick up, 66 to KICK UP a row," to create a tumult.

Kickeraboo, dead. A West Indian negro's phrase. See KICK THE BUCKET, of which phrase it is a corruption.

Kickseys, or KICKSIES, trousers.

Kickshaws, trifles; made, or French dishes-not English or substan tial. Anything of a fancy description now. Corruption of the French QUELQUES CHOSES.

Kicksy, troublesome, disagreeable. German, KECK, bold.

Kid, an infant, or child. From the German kind; or possibly from the name for the young of a goat. Also, a shallow dish in which sailors receive their portions of food.

Kid, to joke, to quiz, to hoax anybody. "No KID, now?" is a question often asked by a man who thinks he is being hoaxed.

Kidden, or KIDKEN, a low lodging-house for boys.
Kiddier, a pork-butcher.

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Kiddily, fashionably or showily; KIDDILY togg'd," showily dressed. Kiddleywink, a small shop where are retailed the commodities of a village store. Originally KIDDLE-A-WINK, from the offer made, with a wink, to give you something out of the kettle or kiddle. In the west country an alehouse. Also, a woman of unsteady habits.

Kiddy, a man, or boy. Formerly a low thief.

Kiddyish, frolicsome, jovial.

"Think on the KIDDYISH Spree we had on such a day."

Randall's Diary, 1520.