Definitions starting with J

ID #4764

John Brown

[MCC idem; cf. DJE Old John the Devil; evidently from the US South, where the name of John Brown (abolitionist, 1800-59) was equated with that of the devil; cf. also US dial. South I'll be John-Browned! [darned] ADD but cf. 18th century Indonesian Port. Creole "Jan Preto . . . Jean le Noir(= le Diable)" (Valkhoff 1975:83)]

n. the devil: 1918 Mr. John Poney Brown's country was under the earth (Parsons 46). (White)

—intj. an exclamation: the devil; damn(ed): 1966 John Brown! So happen so, they done eat (Crowley 112). Well, I'll be John Brown! (Nassau). I don't give a John Brown! (Nassau). (Gen.)

Tags: interjection, noun, religion

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Last update: 2011-05-31 23:24
Author: Holm and Shilling, DBE, 1982
Revision: 1.0

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