- skip - Brewer’s

John-a-Nokes [or Noakes (1 syl.)]

.

A simpleton.

“John-a-Nokes was driving a cart toward Croydon, and by the way fell asleepe therein. Meane time a good fellow came by and stole away his two horses. [John] awakening and missing them, said, ‘Either I am John-a-Nokes or I am not John-a-Nokes. If I am John-a-Nokes, then I have lost two horses; and if I am not John-a-Nokes, then I have found a cart.ʹ”—Copley: Wits, Fits, and Fancies (1614).

 

previous entry · index · next entry

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

previous entry · index · next entry

Jockey (To)
Jockey of Norfolk
Joe or a Joe Miller
Joey
Jog
Jog-trot
Joggis or Jogges
John
John-a-Dreams
John-a-Droynes
John-a-Nokes [or Noakes
John Anderson, my Jo
John Audley
John Bull
John Chinaman
John Company
John Doe
John Dory
John Dory
John Long
John Roberts (A)