john

English Online Dictionary. What means john‎? What does john mean?

English

Alternative forms

• John

Etymology

From the male given name John (q.v.), whose ubiquity led to extensive use of the name in generic contexts. Its use for toilets derives from John and Cousin John, which both probably relate to jacques and jakes, used in equivalent senses by the British and Irish.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɑn/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɒn/
• Rhymes: -ɑn, -ɒn

Noun

john (plural johns)

1. (slang, US) A prostitute's client.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:prostitute's client

   • 2013, McLachlin CJ, Canada (Attorney General) v. Bedford (2013 SCC 72), para. 62

     In-calls, where the john comes to the prostitute’s residence, are prohibited.

2. (slang, US) A device or place to urinate and defecate: now usually a toilet or lavatory, but also (dated) a chamber pot or outhouse.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:chamber pot, Thesaurus:toilet, Thesaurus:bathroom

3. (slang) A Western man traveling in East Asia.
4. A male mule.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• roti john

References

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

• giehn, gohn (Moselle Franconian)
• jonn (Kölsch)

Etymology

From Old High German gān, from Proto-Germanic *gāną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jɔːn/

Verb

john (third-person singular present jeht, past tense jeng, past participle jejange)

1. (Ripuarian) to go