humorous. [In allusion to 2 Kings ix. 20 ‘the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he driveth furiously.’] a. A fast or furious driver. b. A driver, a coachman.
1682. Dryden, Medall, 119. But this new Jehu spurs the hot mouth’d horse.
1682. S. Pordage, Medal Rev., 124. And if these Jehu’s who so fiercely drive, In their sinister Arts proceed and thrive.
1694. Congreve, Double-Dealer, III. iii. Our Jehu was a hackney-coachman When my lord took him.
1759. Goldsm., Bee, No. 5 (Reverie). He assured the Coachman that … his baggage … was perfectly light. But Jehu was inflexible.
1826. Sporting Mag., XVII. 243. ‘Team’ and ‘Drag’ are terms very generally made use of by Gentlemen Jehus.
1877. Mar. M. Grant, Sun-Maid, ii. He admired Gilbert as a Jehu.
c. attrib. and Comb.
1755. Man, xxxiii. 2. There came behind me a Jehu driver of a phaeton.
1830. N. S. Wheaton, Jrnl., 338. He manages his fiery steeds in a very Jehu-like style.
Hence Jehu v., to drive (trans. and intr.).
1822. Galt, Sir A. Wylie, II. viii. 77. Miss Julia and Mr. Mordaunt jehuing awa’ in a chaise and four.
1825. Examiner, 24 April, 266/2. He himself was Jehu-ing this four-wheeled carriage.
