Etymology

jack of all trades

Today it means: One competent in many endeavours, sometimes regarded as not excelling in any of them. Full definition →

First used early 17th c.
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The story

From jack (“typical man, fellow”) + of + all + trades.

First known use, by meaning

  • from early 17th c. One competent in many endeavours, sometimes regarded as not excelling in any of them.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.