Meaning of Jackanapes | Babel Free

Definitions

1. (A proper name for) an ape or monkey, especially a tame one kept for entertainment or as a pet.
   obsolete
2. (A proper name for) a person thought to behave like an ape or monkey, for example, in being impudent, mischievous, vain, etc.; specifically (chiefly humorous), an impudent or mischievous child.
   broadly, dated, derogatory
3. A crucifix.
   broadly, derogatory, obsolete, rare
4. A small pulley which keeps a rope in line when lifting ore, water, etc., from a mine.
   broadly, obsolete

Equivalents

Examples

“To iettynge, to iaggynge, and to full of iapes; / To mockynge, to mowynge, to lye a iackenapes: […]”

“He grynnes and he gapis, / As it were iack napis.”

“Can Iack an Ape be merry vvhen his clog is at his heele.”

“A fair sight we are; and had I but a rebeck or guitar at my back, and a jackanapes on my shoulder, we should seem as joyous a brace of strollers as ever touched string at a castle gate.”

“[…] I could see⟳ him climbing like⟳ a jackanapes, for that part was again very steep; […]”

“I [Aye], quoth Jack a napes, by these ten bones, / Nothing happens amiss to a præparid minde, / Tis good philosophy, katt will to kinde.”

“VVas there euer man had ſuch lucke? vvhen I kiſt the Iacke vpon an vp-caſt, to be hit avvay? I had a hundred pound on't: and then a vvhoreſon Iacke-an-apes muſt take⟳ me vp for ſvvearing, as if I borrovved mine oathes of him, and might not ſpend them at my pleaſure.”

“Now, she hath favoured, doth favour, and will favour, this jack-an-ape,—for what good part about him I know⟳ not, save⟳ that as one noble lady will love⟳ a messan dog, and another a screaming popinjay, and a third a Barbary ape, so doth it please⟳ our noble dame to set⟳ her affections upon this stray elf of a page, […]”

“I beg⟳ to say⟳, that I use⟳ those last⟳ expressions advisedly, sir, and not in the sense⟳ in which they are now used by Jackanapeses. There were no Jackanapeses when I was a boy, Mr. Hood. England was Old England when I was young.”

“[W]hat right has any free, reasonable soul on earth, to sell⟳ himself for a shilling a-day to murder⟳ any man, right or wrong— […] just because such a whiskered, profligate jackanapes as that officer, […] is set⟳ to command grey-headed men before he can command his own⟳ meanest passions.”

“Then I set⟳ the boy down as a conceited young jackanapes, which no doubt⟳ he was,—but so are a great many other young people of Ernest's age.”

“[…] I'd soon make⟳ you laugh⟳ the other side of your mouth, you guffawing jackanapes.”

“The boy wouldn't dare. (Rising choler.) Wouldn't dare to refuse⟳ the only sensible girl for miles around. That stubborn jackanapes refuse⟳ to marry⟳ a girl like⟳ you!”

“Who were the aristocracy, to give⟳ themselves airs? Jackanapes!”

“By his extreme youth, he can only be a prancing jackanapes, and so I name⟳ him.”

“I wyl rather haue these knees pared of, then I wil kneele to yonder iacknapes (meaning the rode) God healpe me I am borne to trouble⟳ and aduersity in this world.”

CEFR level