jimmer

• jemmer, gemmer, gemew

From Middle English gemow, from Old French gemel, from Latin gemellus (“twin”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɪmə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɪmɚ/

jimmer (plural jimmers)

1. (obsolete, UK, dialectal, chiefly in the plural) A hinge.
   • 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:

     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.

   • 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:

     […] 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 ; […]

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

     “ […] 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)

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

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

• A Collection of English Words Not Generally Used (1691) by John Ray

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /ˈjɪmər/

jimmer

1. always

• “jimmer”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011