[Name of a town in Palestine, where David bade his servants tarry until their beards were grown: see 2 Sam. x. 5.] Used in slang or colloq. phrases for a place of retirement or concealment, or a place far distant and out of the way.
1635. Heywood, Hierarchy, IV. 208. Who would,… I know, Bid such young boyes to stay in Iericho Vntill their Beards were growne, their wits more staid.
1648. Mercurius Aulicus, 2–30 March. Let them all goe to Jericho, And ne’re be seen againe.
1758. A. Murphy, Upholsterer, II. He may go to Jericho for what I cares.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Grey Dolphin. His kick was tremendous, and when he had his boots on would—to use an expression of his own,… ‘send a man from Jericho to June.’
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., xvi. She may go to Bath, or she may go to Jericho for me.
1898. J. Arch, Story of Life, xiii. 310. To enable them to do without the strong arm of the labourer and to send them to Jericho, if they had nowhere else to go to.
