jackanapes

  • 1Jackanapes — Jack a*napes, n. [For Jack o (= of) apes; prop., a man who exhibits apes.] [Written also {jackanape}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A monkey; an ape. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. A coxcomb; an impertinent or conceited fellow. [1913 Webster] A young upstart… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2jackanapes — mid 15c., a monkey, also an impertinent, conceited fellow; apparently from Jack of Naples, but whether this is some specific personification or folk etymology of JACK (Cf. jack) (n.) + APE (Cf. ape) is unknown. See note in OED …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 3jackanapes — [jak′ə nāps΄] n. [ME Jac Napes, nickname of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk (1396 1450), whose badge was a clog and a chain like a tame ape s] 1. Archaic a monkey 2. a conceited, insolent, presumptuous fellow 3. a pert, mischievous child …

    English World dictionary

  • 4jackanapes — noun Etymology: Middle English Jack Napis, nickname for William de la Pole died 1450 duke of Suffolk Date: 1526 1. monkey, ape 2. a. an impudent or conceited fellow b. a saucy or mischievous child …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 5jackanapes — /jak euh nayps /, n. 1. an impertinent, presumptuous person, esp. a young man; whippersnapper. 2. an impudent, mischievous child. 3. Archaic. an ape or monkey. [1400 50; late ME Jakken apes, lit., jack (i.e., man) of the ape, nickname of William… …

    Universalium

  • 6jackanapes — noun An impudent or mischievous person …

    Wiktionary

  • 7jackanapes — (Roget s IV) n. Syn. wiseacre, whippersnapper, coxcomb, scamp; see rascal …

    English dictionary for students

  • 8jackanapes —  A cocky person …

    Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • 9jackanapes — jack·a·napes || dʒækÉ™neɪps n. impudent person, upstart, whippersnapper; mischievous child …

    English contemporary dictionary

  • 10jackanapes — [ dʒakəneɪps] noun 1》 dated an impertinent person. 2》 archaic a tame monkey. Origin C16 (orig. as Jack Napes): perh. from a playful name for a tame ape, the initial n by elision of an ape …

    English new terms dictionary