Adj. (common).—As an adjectival prefix Jerry is frequently used in
contempt: e.g. jerry-go-nimble, jerry-shop, jerry-builder (all which
and others see). [An abbreviation of Jeremiah: perhaps a Restoration
jibe upon the Puritan use of Old Testament names; but see
Jerry-builder].
Verb. (common).—To jibe; to chaff with malice.
Jerry-builder, subs. (common).—A rascally speculating builder.
Jerry-built, adj. = run up in the worst materials. [The use of the term
arose in Liverpool circa 1830].
1883. Daily Telegraph, 23 Mar., p. 6, col. 1. But the jerry builder
is a man of enterprise and energy, and promptly showed himself
equal to the occasion. Ibid. Ap. 5, p. 2, col. 1. ‘Houses, of the
jerry-built sort especially, when the builders have a difficulty in
raising money to finish ’em, are singularly liable to catch fire.’
1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 15 Feb., Two lumps of plaster, fall from
the roof of the jerry-built palace; then the curse begins to work.
1889. Ally Sloper’s Half-Holiday, 3 Aug., p. 242, col. 3. ‘Well,
sir,’ said a jerry builder, ‘I don’t think as ’ow it’s right on you
to be a-runnin’ the house down as you do.’
1889. Daily Chronicle, 15. Feb. The vestries and district local
boards, in fact, have been dominated too much by jerry-builders and
house-jobbers.
1891. Sportsman, 21 April, p. 2, col. 1. She lives in a jerry-built
house.
1891. J. Newman, Scamping Tricks, 119. It was in the days when
every jerry-builder thought he was a railway and dock contractor.
1893. St. James’s Gazette, 2 Nov., p. 4, col. 2. All this loss of
life and all this fearful suffering are to be laid at the door of
scamping jerry-builders or of careless employers.
Jerrycummumble, verb. (old).—To shake; to tumble about; to
towzle.—Grose (1785).
Jerry-getting (or nicking, or stealing).—Stealing watches.
1888. Tit-Bits, 17 Nov. Watch stealing, or jerry getting, as the
thieving fraternity designate the operation, is carried on to a
considerable extent all the year round.
Jerry-go-nimble, subs. (old).—1. The diarrhœa; the back-door-trot
(q.v.); the collywobbles (q.v.). Formerly thorough-go-nimble (q.v. for
synonyms).
1734. Carey, Chrononhotonthologos, sc. 3. Now ... for a swingeing
lye.... Say she has got the thorough-go-nimble.