john

¹

[ jon ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a toilet or bathroom.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) a fellow; guy.
3. (sometimes initial capital letter) a prostitute's customer.
4. Also called john mule. a male mule, or more properly a gelded mule. Compare horse mule.

John

²

[ jon ]

noun

1. the apostle John, believed to be the author of the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the book of Revelation.
2. John the Baptist.
3. John Lackland, 1167?–1216, king of England 1199–1216; signer of the Magna Carta 1215 (son of Henry II of England).
4. Augustus Edwin, 1878–1961, British painter and etcher.
5. Elton Reginald Kenneth Dwight, born 1947, English rock singer, pianist, and songwriter.
6. the fourth Gospel.
7. any of the three Epistles of John: 1, 2, or 3 John.
8. a male given name.

John

¹

/ dʒɒn /

noun

1. New Testament
   1. JohnMJewishRELIGION: apostleRELIGION: saint the apostle John, the son of Zebedee, identified with the author of the fourth Gospel, three epistles, and the book of Revelation. Feast day: Dec 27 or Sept 26
   2. the fourth Gospel
   3. any of three epistles (in full The First, Second, and Third Epistles of John )
2. See John the Baptist
   See John the Baptist
3. John11671216MEnglishPOLITICS: hereditary ruler known as John Lackland. 1167–1216, king of England (1199–1216); son of Henry II. He succeeded to the throne on the death of his brother Richard I, having previously tried to usurp the throne. War with France led to the loss of most of his French possessions. After his refusal to recognize Stephen Langton as archbishop of Canterbury an interdict was imposed on England (1208–14). In 1215 he was compelled by the barons to grant the Magna Carta
4. John13711419MBurgundianPOLITICS: hereditary ruler called the Fearless . 1371–1419, duke of Burgundy (1404–19). His attempt to control the mad king Charles VI and his murder of the king's brother led to civil war: assassinated
5. JohnAugustus (Edwin)18781961MBritishARTS AND CRAFTS: painter Augustus ( Edwin ). 1878–1961, British painter, esp of portraits
6. JohnBarry1945MWelshSPORT AND GAMES: rugby union player Barry born 1945, Welsh Rugby Union footballer: halfback for Wales (1966–72) and the British Lions (1968–71)
7. JohnSir Elton (Hercules)1947MBritishMUSIC: rock pianistMUSIC: composerMUSIC: singer Sir Elton ( Hercules ). original name Reginald Dwight. born 1947, British rock pianist, composer, and singer; his hits include "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) and "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997), a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales
8. JohnGwen18761939FBritishARTS AND CRAFTS: painter Gwen , sister of Augustus John. 1876–1939, British painter, working in France: noted esp for her portraits of women

john

²

/ dʒɒn /

noun

1. See lavatory
   a slang word for lavatory
2. slang.
   a prostitute's client
3. See John Hop
   slang.
   short for John Hop

Word History and Origins

Origin of john¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English Johan, Iohan, John; generic use of the proper name

Origin of john²

Middle English Johan, John, Jon, from Medieval Latin Jō(h)annēs, from Greek Iōánnēs, from Hebrew Yôkhānān, contracted from Yĕhôkhānān “God has been gracious”; Anna ( def ), Yahweh ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of john¹

C20: special use of the proper name

Example Sentences

In this new role, John joins the editorial leadership team helping guide our overall strategy and coverage across all platforms.

From Time

In the seasons of John’s life, this should be a time of laughing and dancing and continued traveling, after he waited for Cindi to finally retire.

From Washington Post

John said, “She told me that thinking about it gives her a pit in her stomach.”

From ProPublica

I realized if I wrote a book about John, I could also write a book about the war.

From Washington Post

I have no way of getting in touch with John, he’s on his boat for the weekend.

From Ozy

A few years back, designer John Galliano was fined by the government for sharing just such anti-semitic sentiments in public.

From The Daily Beast

NEW ORLEANS — John Boehner was reelected House Speaker yesterday by his Republican colleagues despite some dissenting members.

From The Daily Beast

And similar shards of enthusiasm-killing kryptonite are lodged in John Kasich, Mike Pence and Ted Cruz.

From The Daily Beast

As it currently stands, the Via Dolorosa follows the account given in the Gospel of John.

From The Daily Beast

By contrast, John McCain, the eventual GOP nominee, had raised approximately $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2007 alone.

From The Daily Beast

After all, may not even John Burns be human; may not Mr. Chamberlain himself have a heart that can feel for another?

From Project Gutenberg

Hamo in alluding to the early cultivation of tobacco by the colony, says, that John Rolfe was the pioneer tobacco planter.

From Project Gutenberg

John Wilson, a celebrated landscape and marine painter, died at Folkstone, aged 81.

From Project Gutenberg

John Thornton Kirkland, president of Harvard university, died, aged 70.

From Project Gutenberg

John was baptizing at a large pool called Ænon-by-Saleim,—probably allegorical, meaning “Fountain of Repose.”

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• latrine
• lavatory
• men's room
• outhouse
• toilet
• urinal