John Hancock

== English == === Etymology Named after American merchant and statesman John Hancock (1737–1793), the first person to sign the United States Declaration of Independence. According to legend, he signed his name prominently to be sure George III could read it, causing his name to become an eponym for a signature. However, other examples show that Hancock always wrote his signature this way. === === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /dʒɒn ˈhænkɒk/ (General American) IPA(key): /dʒɑn ˈhænkɑk/, /dʒɑn ˈhænkɔːk/ Hyphenation: John Han‧cock === Noun === John Hancock (plural John Hancocks) (US, idiomatic) A person's signature. ==== Translations ==== === Verb === John Hancock (third-person singular simple present John Hancocks, present participle John Hancocking, simple past and past participle John Hancocked) (US, transitive) To sign; to write one's signature on (something). === Related terms === Hancock (“placename”) === See also === John Henry === Further reading === John Hancock (the person) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia