1635. Brome, Antipodes, iv. 2. Some cowardly jade That dare not strike a woman.
1647-80. Rochester, Ramble in St. James's Park, in Wks. (1728), 82. But to turn damned abandoned jade, Whom neither head nor tail persuade.
1678. Cotton, Virgil Travestie, in Wks (1725), Bk. iv. p. 103. And (like a simple hair-brain'd jade) This Youth hail Fellow with me made. Ibid. p. 105. At last a crew of strapping jades, That were or should have been her Maids.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew., s.v. Jade a Term of Reproach given to Women, as Idle jade, Lazy jade, Silly jade &c.
1712. Steele, Spectator, No. 479. There are perverse jades . . . with whom it requires more than common proficiency in philosophy to . . . live.
1714. Allan Ramsay, Elegy on John Cowper, in Works (1848), i. 294. And she, poor jade, withouten din Is sent to Leith-Wynd—fit to spin.
d. 1719. Addison, [quoted in Century]. You now and then see some handsome young jades.
1725. New. Cant. Dict., s.v.
1770. Foote, Lame Lover, i. 1. Why, you pert jade, do you play on my words?
1772. G. A. Stevens, Songs Comic etc., 'Chastity'. Turn your face to that table, at once you will see What faces jades wear.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1791. Burns, Tam O'Shanter. A souple jaud she was, an' strang.
1807. Crabbe, Parish Register. To let an artful jade, The close recesses of thine heart invade.
1863. Longfellow, The Musician's Tale. A faded old woman, a heathenish JADE.
2. (American thieves').—A long term of imprisonment; a stretch (q.v.).
Jag, subs. (American).—A scrap;
a load, parcel, or lot: e.g., a fare,
a catch of fish &c.
1692. Hackett, Life of Archbishop Williams, 136. The latter of these two letters is come abroad; whereof, because it is in many hands, some jags will suffice to be recited.
1834. C. A. Davis, Major Downing's Letters, p. 168. As there was very little money in the country, the bank bought a good jag on't in Europe.
1839. Ure, Dict., iv. 376. The flint is sold by the one-horse load, called a jag (in Suffolk, Eng.) and carted to the Knapper's Shops.
1866. Trowbridge, Coupon Bonds, p. 393. The wagon stood in the road, with the last jag of rails still on it.
1888. Missouri Republican. One broker buying on a heavy order. . . . occasionally caught a JAG of 2000 or 3000 shares.
2. (American).—A whim; a fancy.
3. (American).—Intoxication: e.g. TO HAVE A JAG ON = to be drunk.
4. (American).—A drunkard; a LUSHINGTON (q.v.).
Jagged, adj. (American).—Drunk.
For synonyms see Drinks and
Screwed.
Jagger, subs. (American thieves').—1.
A gentleman.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
1859. Du Cange Anglicus, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
2. (common).—A hawker.
1888. Cassell's Sat. Journal, 8 Dec, p. 261. He had a strong suspicion that the old coal jagger was an aider and abettor.
Jague, subs. (Old Cant.).—A ditch.
1622. Head & Kikman, English Rogue, 'Canting Song'. Let Cove bing then, Thro' Ruffmans, jague or Laund.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1754. Scoundrel's Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
