- jerry
noun, Brit
A chamber-pot. (1859 —) .
G. Orwell A bed not yet made and a jerry under the bed (1939).
[Prob. abbreviation of jeroboamnoun , very large wine bottle, from the name of Jeroboam king of northern Israel, described in the Bible (1 Kings xi. 28) as 'a mighty man of valour'; cf. W. Maginn The naval officer...came into the Clarendon for a Jerry [= jeroboam] of punch ((1827)).] - jerry
verb intr. and trans., mainly Austral and NZ
1: To understand, realize, tumble; often followed by to. (1894 —) .
Bulletin (Sydney): I should've jerried when the guy gave me the tug (1975).adjective
2: to be (or get) jerry (on, on to, to):US, dated To be aware (of); to get wise (to). (1908 —) .
Flynn's I know that th' fly was jerry because he gave me th' once over as I was comin' out (1926).noun
3: to take a jerry (to)Austral and NZ To investigate and understand (something); to tumble to (something). (1919 —) .
X. Herbert 'Use y' bit o' brains,' he says, 'an take a jerry to y'self' (1938).
[Origin unknown.]
| jerkwater, jerk-off, jerk | |
| jig, jig-a-jig, jigaboo |
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