jonathan

plural jonathans

1. An instrument used by smokers to light pipes.

plural Jonathans

1. countableuncountablebiblicalA son of Saul, first mentioned in 1 Samuel.

   And it came to pass, when he had made an end to speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2. countableuncountableJonathan Apphus, a son of Mattathias, brother of Joannan Caddis, Simon Thassi, Judas Maccabeus and Eleazar Avara.

   Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Maccabees 9:19

3. countableuncountableA male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.

   It is billed as a one-way trip, which by definition will make the Most Interesting Man, played till now by 77-year-old Jonathan Goldsmith, no longer the most interesting man in this world.

   2016 March 10, Phil Rosenthal, “Who’s really interested in the second Most Interesting Man, Dos Equis?”, in Chicago Tribune, archived from the original on 30 Aug 2025

   2 more examples

   “Well indeed,” said Foley, “’tis a mystery to me how the sergeant puts up with her. If any woman up and called me an outlandish name like Jonathan when everyone knew my name was plain John I’d do fourteen days for her - by God, I would, and a calendar month.”

   1936 Frank O'Connor, In The Train. The Stories of Frank O’Connor, Knopf, 1952. page 166

   So I’d change to names I really like. I mean, Jonathan. If I ever have a son I’m going to call him Jonathan, so I’d have that. And then I like monosyllabic surnames that aren’t too common, so I’d have Dean or Bell or King. There you are, how about Jonathan King?

   1998, Barbara Vine, The Chimney Sweeper’s Boy, →ISBN, page 168

4. countableuncountableA surname from Hebrew.

plural Jonathans

1. An apple cultivar from New York.

   For example, Jonathans are tart and great for baking.

   2018 October 4, “4H column: Join the Great Lakes Apple Crunch”, in Chillicothe Gazette

2. datedslangAn American; a Yank; Brother Jonathan.

   The best single source of comment on Marble's capacities as a low comedian, as with the other Yankees, is the record of his London reception. […] One viewer thought it was not as outrageous as Jonathans usually are, […]

   2014, Francis Hodge, Yankee Theatre: The Image of America on the Stage, 1825–1850

   1 more example

   Here crashed a sturdy oath of stout John Bull, Who damned away his eyes as heretofore; There Paddy brogued “By Jasus!”—“What’s your Wull?” The temperate Scot exclaimed; the French Ghost swore In certain terms I shan’t translate in full, As the first Coachman will; and midst the roar The voice of Jonathan was heard to express, “Our president is going to war, I guess.”—

   1822, Lord Byron, The Vision of Judgement, stanza 59

3. slangpenis

   Synonyms: anaconda, baloney pony, bald-headed hermit, banana, bird, birdie, bobby, boonga