A Dictionary of Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words / Used at the Present Day in the Streets of London; the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; the Houses of Parliament; the Dens of St. Giles; and the Palaces of St. James.

by John Camden Hotten

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.