Jemmy Ducks, subs. phr. (nautical).—The ship’s poulterer; also Billy
Ducks.
1880. Harwood, [U. S. N.] Mess Table Chat. As to chanticleer, the
keeper of the live-stock, Jemmy Ducks, had long ceased to regard
him as worthy of his solicitude.
1883. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language, s.v.
Jemmy Jessamy, subs. phr. (old).—A dandy. For synonyms see Dandy. Also
as adj.
1753. Adventurer, No. 100. The scale, however, consists of eight
degrees; Greenhorn, jemmy, jessamy, Smart, Honest Fellow, Joyous
Spirit, Buck, and Blood.
1772. G. A. Stevens, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 139. Macaronies so
neat, Pert jemmies so sweet, With all their effeminate brood.
1788. G. A. Stevens, Adv. of a Speculist, i. 24. With ladies when
jemmys and jessamys mix.
1853. Thackeray, Barry Lyndon, xiii, 180. This was very different
language to that she had been in the habit of hearing from her
jemmy jessamy adorers.
1853. Thackeray, Barry Lyndon, i. 19. My dear young lady readers
may know ... what a courage and undaunted passion he had. I
question whether any of the jemmy-jessamines of the present day
would do half as much in the face of danger.
Jemmy and Jessamy; subs. phr. (American).—A pair of lovers.—Maitland.
Jemmy-john, subs. (common).—A demijohn.
1861. Marsh, Lectures on the English Language, (q.v. for Etymology
from Damaghan a town in Khorassan, once famous for its glass
works).
1873. T. B. Aldrich, Marjorie Daw &c. p. 76 (Tauchnitz). ‘A gill o’
wather out of a jimmy-john ’d fuddle him, mum.’
Jemmy O’Goblin, subs. phr. (theatrical).—A sovereign. For synonyms see
Canary.
Jenkins’ Hen. To die like Jenkins’ hen, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To die
unmarried.
1805. A. Scott, Poems, ‘The Old Maid’, p. 87. I ance had
sweethearts nine or ten, And dearly dawted wi’ the men.... But Oh!
the death of Jenkins’ hen, I shudder at it.
Jenny, subs. (colloquial).—1. A she-ass.
2. (thieves’).—A small crowbar; formerly betty or bess (q.v.); also a
hook on the end of a stick.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Jenny, an instrument to lift up
a grate, and whip anything out of a shop window.
1725. New Cant. Dict. s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
3. (billiards’).—A losing hazard into the middle pocket off a ball an
inch or two from the side cushion.