jingo

[ jing-goh ]
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noun,plural jin·goes.
  1. a person who professes their patriotism loudly and excessively, favoring vigilant preparedness for war and an aggressive foreign policy; bellicose chauvinist.

  2. English History. a Conservative supporter of British Prime Minister Disraeli's policy in Turkey during the period 1877–78.

adjective
  1. of jingoes.

  2. characterized by jingoism.

Idioms about jingo

  1. by jingo!Informal. (an exclamation used to emphasize the truth or importance of a foregoing statement, or to express astonishment, approval, etc.): I know you can do it, by jingo!

Origin of jingo

1
First recorded in 1660–70; originally conjurer's call hey jingo! “appear! come forth!” (opposed to hey presto! hasten away!), taken into general use in the phrase by Jingo, euphemism for by God; chauvinistic sense from by Jingo in political song supporting use of British forces against Russia in 1878

Words Nearby jingo

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How to use jingo in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jingo

jingo

/ (ˈdʒɪŋɡəʊ) /


nounplural -goes
  1. a loud and bellicose patriot; chauvinist

  2. jingoism

  1. by jingo an exclamation of surprise

Origin of jingo

1
C17: originally perhaps a euphemism for Jesus; applied to bellicose patriots after the use of by Jingo! in the refrain of a 19th-century music-hall song

Derived forms of jingo

  • jingoish, adjective

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