Jock

See also: jock

English

Etymology

Believed to be a Scots variant of Jack. Because of its specific association with Scotland, the British English slang term is believed by most sources to be derived from the frequency of the use of the given name in Scotland, rather than from the "common man" etymology.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɒk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɑk/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒk

Proper noun

Jock

1. A nickname.
   • 1975, Robertson Davies, World of Wonders, →ISBN, page 736:

     - - - If you want a Scotch name why don't you call him Jock?" Macgregor looked disgusted. "Because Jock is not a name, but a diminutive, as everybody knows well. It is the diminutive of John. And John is not a Scots name. The Scots form of that name is Ian. If you want to call him Ian Fetch, I shall say no more.

2. A given name.
3. A surname.

Noun

Jock (plural Jocks)

1. (UK, slang) A Scot.

Usage notes

Some speakers consider the term pejorative. Others consider it no more pejorative than, for example, the similar generic use of "Joe".

See also

• Jimmy
• Jockland
• Paddy
• Mick