The list of Jacks supplied by your correspondent John Jackson is amusing and curious. A few additions towards a complete collection may not be altogether unacceptable or unworthy of notice.
Supple (usually pronounced souple) Jack, a flexible cane; Jack by the hedge, a plant (Erysimum cordifolium); the jacks of a harpsichord; jack, an engine to raise ponderous bodies (Bailey); Jack, the male of birds of sport (Ditto); Jack of Dover, a joint twice dressed (Ditto, from Chaucer); jack pan, used by barbers (Ditto); jack, a frame used by sawyers. I have also noted Jack-Latin, Jack-a-nod, but cannot give their authority or meaning.
The term was very familiar to our older writers. The following to Dodsley's Collection of old Plays (1st edition, 1744) may assist in explaining its use:
| Vol. I.— |
Page 45. Jack Strawe. Page 65. New Jack. Page 217. Sir Jacke. Page 232. Jack Fletcher. Page 263. Jacknapes. Page 271. Jack Sauce. |
| Vol. II.— | Page 139. Clapper Jack. |
| Vol. III.— |
Page 34. Prating Jack. Page 64. Jack-a-lent. Page 168. His Jacks. Page 214. Black Jacks. |
| Vol. V.— |
Page 161. Every Jack. Page 341. Skip-Jack. |
| Vol. VI.— |
Page 290. Jack Sauce. Page 325. Flap-Jacks. Page 359. Whirling Jacks. |
| Vol. VIII.— | Page 55. Jack Sauce. |
| Vol. X.— | Pages 46. 49. His Jack. |
Your correspondent is perhaps aware that Dr. Johnson is disposed to consider the derivation from John to be an error, and rather refers the word to the common usage of the French word Jacques (James). His conjecture seems probable, from many of its applications in this language. Jacques, a jacket, is decidedly French; Jacques de mailles equally so; and the word Jacquerie embraces all the catalogue of virtues and vices which we connect with our Jack.
On the other hand, John, in his integrity, occurs familiarly in John Bull, John-a-Nokes, John Doe, John apple, John Doree, Blue John, John Trot, John's Wort, John-a-dreams, &c.; and Poor John is found in Dodsley, vol. viii. pp. 197. 356.
C. H. P.
Brighton.