John Blunt, a straightforward, honest, outspoken man.
Johnny, half-a-glass of whisky.—Irish.
Johnny Darbies, a nickname for policemen, an evident corruption of the French GENSDARMES. Also, a term applied to handcuffs.—See [DARBIES].
Johnny Raw, a newly-enlisted soldier.
John Orderly, the signal to shorten the performance at a show. Whenever the master, who remains on the platform outside to take the money and regulate the performance, desires to refill the booth, he pokes his head inside and shouts, “Is John Orderly there?” The actors instantly cut the piece short, the curtain falls, and the spectators are bundled out at the back, to make room for the fresh audience. According to tradition, John Orderly was a noted showman, who taught this move to the no less noted Richardson. This is like the old story of the publican who used to call out to his waiter, “A pot of ale, Robert,” when he wished his customers to be served with the best; but “A pot of ale, Bob,” when they had been drinking long enough not to distinguish good stuff from the bad the latter order meant. One day after calling for Bob many times, he reluctantly, at the request of a visitor, tasted the ale, and found it was the best. Rushing out immediately afterwards, and calling for Bob with all his voice, he was answered by his wife, who said, “Why, Bob’s been out these three hours.”
John Thomas, a generic for “flunkeys,”—more especially footmen with large calves and fine bushy whiskers.
Jolly, a Royal Marine.—See [HORSE MARINE].
Jolly, a word of praise, or favourable notice; “chuck Harry a JOLLY, Bill,” i.e., go and praise up his goods, or buy of him, and speak well of the article, that the crowd standing around his stall may think it a good opportunity for laying out their money. This is called JOLLYING. “Chuck a JOLLY,” lit. translated, is, throw “a shout” or “good word.”
Jolly, to abuse or vituperate, sometimes to “bear up” or “bonnet.” To JOLLY a man often means to give him a piece of one’s mind. To JOLLY “for” any one is another phase of the business mentioned in the foregoing paragraph.
Jomer, a sweetheart, or favourite girl. See [BLOWER].