john

plural johns · alternative John

1. USslangA prostitute's client.

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

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

   3 more examples

   The girls sat there while the johns (customers) moped around giving them the once-over.

   1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Not too Far Tangent”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 1 (1899–1923: A Nothin’ but a Child), page 22

   Well she's black as coal, but she burn like a fire, And she wrap herself around you like a well-worn tire. You feel her nail scratch your back just like a rake, Oh oh, he one more gone, he one more john who make the mistake.

   1975, “Island Girl”, in Bernie Taupin (lyrics), Rock of the Westies, performed by Elton John

   In the first part of the video, Thad sucks the john's cock and takes a load in his mouth.

   2004, Dennis Cooper, The Sluts, page 233

   Synonyms: all-nighter, curb crawler, fare, gonk, jane, Jane, jockey, kerb crawler

2. USslangA device or place for urination and defecation: now usually a toilet or lavatory, but also (dated) a chamber pot or outhouse.

   Synonyms: can, chamber, chamber pot, chemical toilet, commode, Cousin John, crapper, gazunder

3. slangA Western man traveling in East Asia.
4. A male mule.

plural Johns · alternative Jon · alternative abbreviation rare Joh.

1. A male given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew]; very popular since the Middle Ages.

   The vote was 54-46. The vote was mostly along party lines though Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joined Republicans in supporting Bondi.

   2025 February 4, Shania Shelton and Morgan Rimmer, “Senate votes to confirm Pam Bondi as attorney general”, in CNN

   2 more examples

   John is a most excellent name, and Smith is a surname which is worthy of respect and honor, but wo to the man on whom they are conjoined! For John Smith to aspire to senatorial dignities or to the laurel of a poet is simply ridiculous. Who is John Smith? He is lost in the multitude of John Smiths, and individual fame is impossible.

   1852 August, D. H. Jacques, “A Chapter on Names”, in The Knickerbocker, or, New-York Monthly Magazine, volume XL, page 114

   The name I refer to is John. It has been borne by many illustrious men and an innumerable multitude of the obscure. - - - It is as fixed as the English landscape and the procession of seasons. It never becomes wearisome or tarnished. Nothing affects it; nothing can bring it into contempt; it stands like a rock amid the turbulent waves of human history, as fine and noble a thing now as it was when it first took shape on human lips. It is a name to live up to; but if one who bears it sinks into disrepute it falls not with him, but rather stays in the firmament above him, shining down upon him like a reproachful star.

   1920, John Collings Squire, “Initials”, in Life and Letters: Essays, Hodder & Stoughton, pages 233–235

   1. informalUsed generically for a man whose actual name may not be known.

      a John Doe murder case; the dreaded Dear John letter; if we were to ask John Q. Public his opinion

      Synonyms: sir, boy, bro, gov, guv, guvnor, Mac, man

   2. informalUsed frequently to form an idea personified, as in John Bull, John Barleycorn (see derivations below).
2. biblicalPersons of the Christian Bible: John the Baptist; and names possibly referring to one, two or three persons, frequently called "Saint": John the Apostle, John the Evangelist and John of Patmos (also called John the Divine or John the Theologian).

   There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 1:6

3. biblicalThe Gospel of St John, a book of the New Testament of the Bible. Traditionally the fourth of the four gospels.

   Synonyms: Joh.

4. biblicalOne of the books in the New Testament of the Bible, the epistles of John (1 John, 2 John and 3 John).
5. A surname originating as a patronymic.

plural Johns · alternative Jon · alternative abbreviation rare Joh.

1. UKslanggovernmentA new recruit at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

   To avoid bullying, first-year “Johns” (from Johnny Raw) “fagged” for senior classmen known as “Regs.” Fagging included making beds, running messages, and smuggling contraband.

   2017, Verity McInnis, Women of Empire

   1 more example

   I and the other "Johns," as I soon discovered all new-comers at Sandhurst were, and are still, styled, although at the time I was unconscious of it, managed to troop in after the A company, but although not two minutes after them, found all the different messes already seated and hard at work.

   1842, The United Service Magazine

2. USarchaicslangAlternative letter-case form of john (“a toilet, lavatory, outhouse, chamber pot”).
3. Super Smash Bros.video gamesAn excuse, chiefly made by a losing player for their poor performance.

   Remember, no Johns.

   5 more examples

   This is the sound of a John. A John. He wants to wait.

   2005 December 3, 3:53 from the start, in NO JOHNS, spoken by John Michael "SOS" Howard, published 6 June 2007 via YouTube, archived from the original on 24 Oct 2024

   Bursting from the inaudible chatter of many smiling faces, a thunderous voice emerges, “No Johns, son!”

   2009, Daniel O'hair, “A Smashing Experience”, in Jennifer Oato, editor, Klipsun Magazine, volume 40, number 1, archived from the original on 20 Jun 2016, page 10

   You never know, I might show up to challenge you someday. And if we ever do get to go head to head: Please, no Johns.

   2014, 0:47 from the start, in Smash Bros. - Reggie's Message to Fans - Evo 2014, spoken by Reggie Fils-Aimé, IGN, via YouTube, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2014

   I didn’t get any hand warmers. I didn’t warm up properly. I didn’t get enough sleep last night. There’s television lag. These are some of the Johns that [D'ron "D1"] Maingrette says he’s heard over the years.

   2019 September 16, Cecilia D'Anastasio, “How A High School Smash Bros. Joke Became A World-Famous Saying”, in Kotaku, archived from the original on 23 Nov 2019

   Some "Johns" have become universal among Smash players. Some prominent "Johns" include: controller issues, not enough sleep, food, or water, a cold venue, or a lack of warmup time.

   2020 May 28, Abbie Rappaport, “"Melee is Broken": Super Smash Bros. Melee: An Interdisciplinary Esports Ethnography”, in spectrum.library.concordia.ca, Concordia University, archived from the original on 24 Oct 2022