Holy Joe

American  

noun

Slang.

1. a chaplain, especially in the U.S. armed forces.

2. a minister or priest.

3. a sanctimonious or overly pious person.

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Holy Joe British  

noun

1. a minister or chaplain

2. any sanctimonious or self-righteous person

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Etymology

Origin of Holy Joe

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Red, Woolly, Punk and a saturnine-faced Texan whose addiction to unique expletives of an unconventional nature had secured for him the sobriquet of "Holy Joe."

From Project Gutenberg

“Holy Joe!” exclaimed the hobo looking up with sudden interest, “say, how long ago did he leave?”

From Project Gutenberg

"Holy Joe" was the name given the Chaplain.

From Project Gutenberg

My general reputation up to this moment in the ship was that of a simple-minded Irish lad, who was a religious fanatic, a sort of sky pilot or "Holy Joe."

From Project Gutenberg

There was Holy Joe, the shanghaied parson, whose weak flesh scorned the torture, because of the strong, pure faith in the man's soul.

From Project Gutenberg