jingling Johnny

noun

Music.

1. crescent.

Word History and Origins

Origin of jingling Johnny¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Of course he couldn't have put in Mrs Beethoven, because there wasn't a Mrs Beethoven, unless Millican meant his mum … ladder … Jingling Johnny case!

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There was also an apparatus known as a jingling johnny, figured by Galpin at p.

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A British subaltern bent on improving his mind could encounter an infinitely better preceptor there than "Jingling Johnny," the self-appointed professor to the garrison, who hires himself on Monday, makes you a present of a guitar-tutor on Tuesday, and asks you to favour him with six months' payment in advance on Wednesday.

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The Turkish crescent or “jingling Johnny,” as it was familiarly called in the British army bands, was introduced by the Janissaries into western Europe.

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Another specially military instrument, universal in the Russian army and more or less common to others, is the so-called "Jingling Johnny," a frame of small bells that is sharply shaken in the accented parts of the music.

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