jimmer

plural jimmers · alternative jemmer · alternative gemmer · alternative gemew

1. UKdialectalin pluralobsoleteA hinge.

   It is unlucky to sit opposite the “jimmers ” (i. e. the hinges) of the table when playing at cards.

   1880, Alfred Nutt, “Notes”, in The Folk-Lore Record, volume III, London: […] The Folk-Lore Society, by Messrs. Nichols & Sons, page 127

   3 more examples

   Although it ſhall appeare that in thoſe few places of antiquity where this word Maſle is found, it is found diuorced by the ſpace of heaven and earth, both from the body and marrow bones of the Popiſh Maſſe, as alſo from the jimmers and trinkets thereof.

   1618, Thomas Cartvvright [i.e., Thomas Cartwright], chapter VIII, in A Confvtation of the Rhemists Translation, Glosses, and Annotations on the New Testament. […], page 37

   […] he is a Chriſtian by Art, not by a new nature , dreſt up like a Puppet, in the faſhion and outward ſhape of a man,that moves by the jimmers which the workman faſtens to it, and not inform'd by a ſoul of its own,and therefore as ſuch an image,when worn by time,or broken by violence, can do nothing to renue it ſelf,but crumbles away by piece-meals,till it comes at laſt to nothing ; […]

   1659, William Gurnall, “Of a recovering ſtrength that ſincerity hath, and whence” (chapter XVII), in The Christian in Compleat Armour, or, A Treatise of the Saints War Againſt the Devil, […], 2nd edition, London: […]Ralph Smith […], page 183

   “[…] I also remember the following dialogue in the Suffolk vernacular between a neighbouring farmer and his backus (¹) boy :—‘I sa, Mester?’ ‘ Well, bor.’ (²) ‘If thar ain't Sillett's owd razor-backed hogs broke out agin. That thar owd sarpint of a sow ha' got her snout under the gate, and lifted it off the jimmers, (³) and I ketched a glint (⁴) of the rest on 'em skrigglin' (⁵) thar way through the shruff (⁶) in the hedge holl (⁷) and making another gap right atwin (⁸) the stub-apple (⁹) and the touch-wood (¹⁰) tree, and tha ha' bin' a pamplin' (¹¹) all over the land, and rootin (¹²) up our taters, and not one on 'em ringled (¹³). Mester, I think we'd better pound 'em.'” (¹⁴)

   1875, Frederick Clifford, chapter XII, in The Agricultural Lock-out of 1874 […], Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, page 281

1. alternativeNorth WisconsinAlternative form of James, usually a diminutive, but also occasionally a given name.

   You see, Da Jimmer has been to outer space and he’s different. Very different.

   2001, Escanaba in da Moonlight