John Henry

noun, plural John Henries for 1.

Informal. a person's signature.

U.S. Folklore. a legendary black man of exceptional strength and stamina.

Origin of John Henry

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; from the proper name

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for john henry

streak, impression, point, stamp, symbol, spot, imprint, record, score, signature, stain, scar, line, scratch, bruise, sign, stroke, tag, splotch, logo

john henry in Culture

“John Henry”

An American folksong (see folk music) about the “steel-driving man” John Henry. It contains these lines:

John Henry said to his captain,
“A man ain't nothin' but a man,
And before I'd let your steam drill beat me down,
I'd die with the hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord!
I'd die with the hammer in my hand.”