jane
[jeyn]
- a girl or woman.
Origin of jane
An Americanism dating back to 1905–10; generic use of the proper name
Jane
[jeyn]
- a female given name: derived from John.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for jane
Contemporary Examples
A new book from Mallory Ortberg imagines what literary legends including King Lear and Jane Eyre would have texted.
He never suffered any physical abuse and had grown close with Jane, Brooke, and her family.
For Jane Doe though, she was heading into yet another nightmare.
Daniels, 28, was allegedly the first to force “Jane Doe” to perform sexual acts on johns.
And though Wright kept a low profile for almost a year, he managed to solicit “Jane Doe” on online escort pages.
Historical Examples
Aunt Jane approached a degree nearer the equator, and said, gently, "I fear I do."
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
"He certainly was not what is called a domestic character," said Aunt Jane.
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
Kate and Harry, meanwhile, awaited their opportunity to go in and visit Aunt Jane.
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
It was a very serious thing for the elements when they got into Aunt Jane's diary.
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
"It is a blessing that any of it is disposed of while you are not here," said Aunt Jane.
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
jane
- slang, mainly US a girl or woman
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for jane
Jane
fem. proper name, from French Jeanne, Old French Jehane, from Medieval Latin Johanna (see John). As a generic name for "girl, girlfriend" it is attested from 1906 in U.S. slang. Never a top-10 list name for girls born in the U.S., it ranked in the top 50 from 1931 to 1956. It may owe its "everywoman" reputation rather to its association with John.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper