jackanapes

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈd͡ʒækəneɪps/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈd͡ʒækəˌneɪps/ Hyphenation: jack‧an‧apes === Etymology 1 === From Middle English iack napys, iac nape, iac napes (“derogatory nickname of the English military commander and statesman William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk (1396–1450)”), probably from Jacun or Jakin (“pet forms of the male name Jack”) + ape (“ape, monkey”) + -s (possibly modelled after surnames such as Hobbes and Jakkes), referring to Suffolk’s heraldic badge which was an ape’s chain and clog (“weight such as a block of wood or log attached to an animal to hinder motion”) (see the image, right). It is uncertain whether the word was first coined as a nickname for Suffolk (the earliest known uses), or to refer to an ape or an ape-like person. If the word was originally a nickname, some early uses of sense 2.1 (“person thought to behave like an ape or monkey”) may allude to Suffolk who was widely regarded as an upstart, having risen from the merchant class. In later uses, the middle element of the word was often treated as the indefinite article a or an, that is, as if the word meant “Jack, an ape”. ==== Noun ==== jackanapes (plural jackanapeses) (obsolete) (A proper name for) an ape or monkey, especially a tame one kept for entertainment or as a pet. (by extension) (derogatory, dated) (A proper name for) a person thought to behave like an ape or monkey, for example, in being impudent, mischievous, vain, etc.; specifically (chiefly humorous), an impudent or mischievous child. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:malapert, Thesaurus:troublemaker Coordinate term: (obsolete, rare) Jane-of-apes (obsolete, Christianity, derogatory, rare) A crucifix. (obsolete, mining) A small pulley which keeps a rope in line when lifting ore, water, etc., from a mine. ===== Usage notes ===== Jackanapes is also analyzed as a plural form due to the -s, which led to the back-formation jackanape as a singular form. ===== Alternative forms ===== jackanape, jack-a-napes ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== jackaninny === Etymology 2 === From jackanape +‎ -s (suffix forming regular plurals of nouns). ==== Noun ==== jackanapes plural of jackanape === References === === Further reading === Charles P. G. Scott (1892), “IV.—English Words which hav Gaind or Lost an Initial Consonant by Attraction.”, in Transactions of the American Philological Association, volume XXIII, Boston, Mass.: [F]or the [American Philological] Association by Ginn & Company, […], →ISSN, →OCLC, pages 190–193.