JARVEY, the driver of a hackney coach; JARVEY’S UPPER BENJAMIN, a
coachman’s over-coat.
JAW, speech, or talk; “hold your JAW,” don’t speak any more; “what are
you JAWING about?” _i.e._, what are you making a noise about?
JAW-BREAKERS, hard or many-syllabled words.
JAZEY, a wig. A corruption of JERSEY, the name for flax prepared in a
peculiar manner, and of which common wigs were formerly made.
JEAMES, (a generic for “flunkies,”) the _Morning Post_ newspaper—the
organ of Belgravia and the “Haristocracy.”
JEHU, old slang term for a coachman, or one fond of driving.
JEMMY, a crowbar.
JEMMY, a sheep’s head.—_See_ SANGUINARY JAMES.
JEMMY JESSAMY, a dandy.
JERRY, a beer house.
JERRY, a chamber utensil, abbreviation of JEROBOAM.—_Swift_.
JERRY-COME-TUMBLE, a water-closet.
JERRY, a fog.
JERUSALEM PONY, a donkey.
JESSIE, “to give a person JESSIE,” to beat him soundly.—_See_ GAS.
JEW’S EYE, a popular simile for anything valuable. Probably a
corruption of the _Italian_, GIOJE; _French_, JOUAILLE, a jewel. In
ancient times, when a king was short of cash, he generally issued
orders for so many _Jew’s eyes_, or equivalent sums of money. The Jews
preferred paying the ransom, although often very heavy. We thus realise
the popularly believed origin of JEW’S EYE. Used by _Shakespere_.
JEW-FENCER, a Jew street salesman.
JIB, the face, or a person’s expression; “the cut of his JIB,” _i.e._
his peculiar appearance. The sail of a ship, which in position and
shape corresponds to the nose on a person’s face.—_See_ GIB.—_Sea._
JIB, or JIBBER, a horse that starts or shrinks. _Shakespere_ uses it in
the sense of a worn out horse.