jerry
1[ jer-ee ]
/ ˈdʒɛr i /
adjective Building Trades Slang.
of inferior materials or workmanship.
QUIZZES
DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!
We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Origin of jerry
1First recorded in 1875–80; short for jerry-built
Words nearby jerry
Jerne, Jeroboam, Jerold, Jerome, jerreed, jerry, jerry-build, jerry-built, jerry can, jersey, Jersey barrier
Definition for jerry (2 of 4)
jerry2
[ jer-ee ]
/ ˈdʒɛr i /
noun, plural jer·ries.Chiefly British Slang.
a chamber pot.
Origin of jerry
21820–30; short for Jeroboam (because if one drank such a large amount of liquid, one would have to void urine during the night)
Definition for jerry (3 of 4)
Jerry1
[ jer-ee ]
/ ˈdʒɛr i /
noun
Definition for jerry (4 of 4)
Jerry2
[ jer-ee ]
/ ˈdʒɛr i /
noun, plural Jer·ries.Older Slang: Sometimes Offensive.
a German, especially a German soldier.
Germans collectively.
usage note for Jerry
Jerry was a nickname used by Allied soldiers for a German soldier during World War I, but it was more commonly used in World War II.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for jerry
British Dictionary definitions for jerry (1 of 2)
British Dictionary definitions for jerry (2 of 2)
Jerry
/ (ˈdʒɛrɪ) /
noun plural -ries British slang
a German, esp a German soldier
the Germans collectivelyJerry didn't send his bombers out last night
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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