| jackanapes \JAE-keh-neyps\ (noun) - 1 : A domesticated ape or monkey; 2 : an annoying child; 3 : an impudent fellow.
"Frank is a jackanapes who can't keep a civil tongue in his head."
"Jack Napes" was derisive nickname for William de la Pole, Fourth Earl and First Duke of Suffolk (1396-1450), whose symbol was a block and chain similar to those used on trained monkeys or apes of the time. "Jack" was often used as a slang word for a common maneven a knave, very much like "Guy" and "Joe Sixpack" are used today. This is the origin of the phrase "every man, Jack of them," "jack-in-the-box," and "Jack-o-'lantern." Nicknames like this were popular in rhymes and epithets ridiculing the rich and famous of the time. It quickly became a common noun referring to monkeys and apes and, thence, to its use today in referring to those whose behavior is slightly less than our idealization of human behavior. Today's word has long been slipping from the vernacular, along with "knave," "rogue," "blackguard"all stout words and true. Vulgarities have all but taken over the range of our insults. This is a shame given the rich variety of insulting characterizations available in the language. We could insult each other with much more panache than we do if we but remembered to use terms like these. |
Advertisement Reach Your Financial Goals With Robert Allen Fact: "I was challenged to take someone from Regis Philbin's
studio audience and teach them wealth building principles... 90 days later Pat Watson walked away $20,000 richer!" Fact: "On live TV I promised I would make $24,000 in 24 hours...
I failed... instead I made $94,532.44!" Look over my shoulder and watch how I do it..
Click here to continue. |
No comments:
Post a Comment