3. (Oxford University and general).—A safe-conduct pass; a jasker
(q.v.).
1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, xxix. Stay, gentlemen, ... this
is a jark from Jim Radcliffe.
To jark it, verb. phr. (old).—To run away. For synonyms see Amputate
and Skedaddle.—Bee (1823).
Jarkman, subs. (Old Cant).—A begging-letter writer: a fabricator of
false characters, counterfeit-passes, and certificates.
1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 60. For as much as these two names, a
Iarkeman and a Patrico, bée in the old briefe of vacabonds, and set
forth as two kyndes of euil doers, you shall vnderstande that a
Iarkeman hathe his name of a Iarke, which is a seale in their
Language, as one should make writinges and set seales for lycences
and pasporte.
1608. Dekker, Belman of London, sig. C. 3, (ed. 1608). There [are]
some in this Schoole of Beggers that practise writing and reading,
and those are called jarkmen [old ed. jackmen]: yea, the jarkman is
so cunning sometimes that he can speake Latine; which learning of
his lifts him vp to aduancement for by that means he becomes Clarke
of their Hall, and his office is to make counterfeit licenses,
which are called gybes, and to which he puts Seales, and those are
termed jarkes.
1622. Beaumont & Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, ii, 1. And then, what
name or title e’er they bear, jarkman or Patrico.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, iii, 5. No jarkman, be he high or low.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Jarrehoe, subs. (Wellington College).—A man-servant. Cf. Gyp and Scout.
Jarvel, subs. (old).—A jacket.
Jarvey (or Jarvis), subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A hackney coachman.
1811. Lex. Bal., Jarvis, s.v.
1819. De Vaux, Memoirs, s.v. Jervis.
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. Jarvy.
1835. Beuler, The Devil and the Hackney Coachman. ‘Jarvie! jarvie!’
‘Here I am your honor’.
1837. Carlyle, French Revolution, II, iv. 3. The glass coachman
waits, and in what mood! A brother jarvie drives up; enters into
conversation; is answered cheerfully in jarvie dialect etc.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil, V, vii. I pity them ere jarvies a sitting on
their boxes all the night and waiting for the nobs what is dancing.
1851–61. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lond. Poor, iii, 360. He didn’t
take the corners or the crossings careful enough for a regular
jarvey.
1882. Serj. Ballantine, Experiences, ch. ii, p. 19 (6th ed.). The
driver [of a hackney-coach] was called a jarvey, a compliment paid
to the class in consequence of one of them named Jarvis having been
hanged.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 16 Dec. The assembled Londoners placed more
faith in the real four-wheeler, the grey horse, and the loquacious
jarvey.