John Hancock

n. Informal
A person's signature.

[After John HANCOCK (from the prominence of his signature on the Declaration of Independence).]

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Also, John Henry. One's signature, as in Just put your John Hancock on the dotted line. This expression alludes to John Hancock's prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence. The variant simply substitutes a common name for "Hancock." [Mid-1800s]

noun
noun, US

A signature. Also John Henry. (1903 —) .
Listener Even today an American handing you a contract is apt to say: 'And now if you will just give us your John Hancock' (1972).

[From the name of John Hancock ((1737 — 93)), the first signatory of the American Declaration of Independence ((1776)).]

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