by jingo
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word by jingo. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word by jingo, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say by jingo in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word by jingo you have here. The definition of the word by jingo will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofby jingo, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Uncertain for a long time. Main theories include:
- a minced oath of "by Jesus"; compare crikey, zounds, egads, etc.
- a corruption ultimately of "by St. Gingoulph", in reference to Saint Gangulphus of Burgundy.
- a borrowing from Basque Jinkoa (“god”); compare by Jove. Basque sailors ― a common famous occupation for their people, who often swore by their term for God ― travelled far through the seas for centuries, and often met Englishmen.
Interjection
- Used to express determination or surprise.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:wow
- 1694, François Rabelais, chapter XXVI, in Peter Anthony Motteux, transl., The fifth book of The works of Francis Rabelais, M.D. , page 145:
- […] of all commend me to Ball, this is the Friar of the World, for my Money; you've heard how short, concise, and compendious he is in his Answers? Nothing is to be got out of him but Monosyllables; by Jingo, I believe he would make three bits of a Cherry.
- 1909, Booth Tarkington, Beasley's Christmas Party, New York: Harper & Brothers, pages 22–23:
- “Yes, I'll make Simpledoria get out of the way. Come here, Simpledoria. Now, Bill, put your heels together on the edge of the walk. That's right. All ready? Now then! One for the money—two for the show—three to make ready—and four for to GO!” Another silence. “By jingo, Bill Hammersley, you've beat me! Ha, ha! That was a jump! What say?”
- 1989, Moonlighting:
- You can't tell the difference between surface and substance. Between celebrity and real accomplishment. By jingo, you're right. The scales have fallen from my eyes and I owe it all to you.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “jingo”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ James Orchard Halliwell (1878) A Dictionary of Archaisms and Provincialisms , ninth edition, volume II, London: John Russel Smith, page 485, column 1: “JINGO. By-jingo, a common oath, said to be a corruption of St. Gingoulph.”