Daily Almanac for
Dec 7, 2009
Search White Pages
Search: Infoplease Info search tips
Search: Biographies Bio search tips
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable—J

Jack of Dover

A stockfish, “hake salted and dried.” The Latin for a hake is merlucius, and lucius is a jack or pike. Mer, of course, means the sea, and Dover, the chief Clinque Port, is used as a synonym. Also refuse wine collected into a bottle and sold for fresh wine. “To do-over again.” (See Dover.)

Many a Jack of Dover hastow sold
That hath been twyes hot and twyes cold.

Chaucer: Canterbury Tales.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
Jack of Newbury
Jack o' the Clock
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

More on Jack of Dover from Infoplease:

  • Jack of Dover - Jack of Dover A stockfish, “hake salted and dried.” The Latin for a hake is merlucius, ...
  • Dover - Dover (A). A réchauffé or cooked food done over again. In the professional slang of ...
  • Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: J - Definitions, origins, and illustrative excerpts for words, phases, and literary allusions starting with "J"
  • Poke - Poke A bag, pouch, or sack. Poke A lazy person, a loafer, a dawdler. Poke To thrust or push ...
    • Cite
    • Print
    • Bookmark

Related Content