jackanape

Back-formation from jackanapes.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒækəneɪp/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒækəˌneɪp/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: jack‧an‧ape

jackanape (comparative more jackanape, superlative most jackanape)

1. Of or pertaining to a jackanapes.
   • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:

     I will teach a scurvy jackanape priest to meddle or make.

jackanape (plural jackanapes)

1. Alternative form of jackanapes.
   • 1637, William Camden, Iohn [i.e., John] Philipot, “Certaine Proverbs, Poemes, or Posies, Epigrams, Rythmes, and Epitaphs of the English Nation in Former Times, and Some of this Present Age. [Proverbs.]”, in Remaines Concerning Britaine: […], 5th edition, London: […] Thomas Harper, for John Waterson, […], →OCLC, page 294:

     Can Iack an Ape be merry vvhen his clog is at his heele.

   • 1820, [Walter Scott], chapter IV, in The Abbot. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne & Co.] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and for Archibald Constable and Company, and John Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, page 89:

     Now, she hath favoured, doth favour, and will favour, this jack-an-ape,—for what good part about him I know not, save that as one noble lady will love a messan dog, and another a screaming popinjay, and a third a Barbary ape, so doth it please our noble dame to set her affections upon this stray elf of a page, […]

   • 1926 August, John Galsworthy, “Soames Keeps His Eyes Open”, in The Silver Spoon, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, part I, page 46:

     Who were the aristocracy, to give themselves airs? Jackanapes!

     Appears to have been treated as a plural form.

Jackanapes, although singular, is also analyzed as a plural form due to the -s, which led to the back-formation jackanape as a singular form.^[1] The latter word is sometimes regarded as nonstandard, but sees some use.