Jackanapes

[Henry M]

Jack'n a pis(s)! No relation whatsoever to Carl Orff's brother, 
Jacques.

On 10 Feb 97 at 14:57, MASCARO at humnet.ucla.edu wrote:

> John Boylan informs:
> >
> >  Jackanapes means tame ape or monkey.
> >
> So I just learned from my battered old WEBSTER'S NINTH NEW
> COLLEGIATE.  The whole entry is interesting, though:
> 
> jackanapes: n [ME Jack Napis, nickname for William de la Pole  +1450
> duke of Suffolk] (1522) 1: Monkey, ape 2. a: an impudent or
> conceited fellow b: a saucy or mischievous child.
> 
> It doesn't mention *tame.*  But I never even knew the word had any
> simian overtones.  I've certainly never seen it used that way.  And
> from its origins, it remains even more mysterious.  Who's got their
> OED handy?  How did the monkey part come into being?  Who knows
> anything about the *historical* William de la Pole (nice name that,
> sez Molly Bloom)?  I would have assumed he was an impudent conceited
> fellow--that's certainly what I thought the word meant when I used
> it--and that would be that, except this gives to the ape the first
> entry.  A-and what does *Napis* mean?  Any help?
> 
> john in linguistic limbo
> 
> BTW, ya'll missed my favorite literary inversion:  Ishmael, call me.
> 
> 

AsB4

Keep cool, but care. -- TRP
Moderation in moderation. -- Husky Mariner