[f. JACK sb.1 + -Y dim.]
1. A diminutive or pet form of Jack in various senses.
1835. Hood, Dead Robbery, iii. The stiff ’un … Starts sudden up, like Jacky-in-a-box.
1897. Outing (U.S.), XXX. 358/1. A warm clasp of the hand … from the wealthiest owner as well as from the poorest ‘Jackey’ in port.
2. slang. Gin.
1799. Morn. Herald, in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1800), III. 352. Got up at eight o’clock—had a drap of Jackey.
1825. Brockett, Jackey, English gin.
1832. W. Stephenson, Gateshead Local Poems, 37. Sometimes she would pawn her smock, To get a drop of Jacky.
3. Comb., as jacky-bird, jacky-breezer, jacky-screamer: see quots.
1840. Spurdens, Suppl. Voc. East A., Jacky-breezer, the dragon-fly.
1867. Wood, Pop. Nat. Hist., Birds, 40. When flying, the Swift screams continually, and is sometimes called the Jacky-screamer in consequence.
1897. R. Kearton, Nature & Camera, 277. A live one [starling] called a ‘Jackey-bird’ is secured to what is known amongst the bird-catching fraternity as a ‘flur’ or ‘playstick,’ which can be moved up and down by means of a string which the fowler holds in his left hand.
