subs. (old).—1. An epithet applied to women: in contempt. [Originally a horse or man (CHAUCER): especially (1) one over-ridden or foundered; and (2) unsafe and full of tricks. Hence, by implication, a knavish, battered, or worn-out whore.] JADISH, adj. (NASHE) = malicious; tricky; untrustworthy.
1560. Nice Wanton [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, ii. 172]. Iniquity. Gup, whore; do ye hear this JADE?
1592. BRETON, The Pilgrimage to Paradise, p. 10. Earthly joys will make him prove a JADE.
1607. G. WILKINS, The Miseries of Enforced Marriage, v. [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, ix. 550]. Ilf. Whore, ay, and JADE.
1611. L. BARRY, Ram Alley, iv. 1.
| Does the filthy JADE | |
| Send to me for money? |
1614. J. COOKE, Green’s Tu Quoque, or the Cittie Gallant [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), xi. 226]. She’s good for nothing then, no more than a JADE.
1635. R. BROME, The Antipodes, iv. 2.
| Some Cowardly JADE I warrant, | |
| That durst not strike a woman. |
1647–80. ROCHESTER, A Ramble in St. James’s Park, in Wks. (1728), 82.
| But to turn damn’d abandon’d JADE, | |
| When neither Head nor Tail perswade. |
1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Works (1725), Bk. iv. p. 103.
| And (like a simple hair-brain’d JADE) | |
| This Youth hail Fellow with me made. | |
| Ibid., p. 105. | |
| At last a Crew of strapping JADES, | |
| That were, or should have been her Maids. |
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. JADE, a Term of Reproach given to Women, as Idle JADE, Lazy JADE, Silly JADE, &c.
1712. STEELE, Spectator, No. 479. There are perverse JADES … with whom it requires more than common proficiency in philosophy to … live.
1714. RAMSAY, Elegy on John Cowper, in Works (1848), i. 294.
| An’ she, poor JADE, withoutten din, | |
| Is sent to Leith-wynd fit to spin. |
1711. ADDISON, The Spectator, No. 130, July 30. You see now and then some handsome young JADES.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1770. FOOTE, The Lame Lover, i. 1. Why, you pert JADE, do you play on my words?
1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs, Comic and Satyrical, ‘Chastity.’
| Turn your face to that table, at once you will see | |
| What faces JADES wear; then, my dear, behold me. |
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1791. BURNS, Tam o’ Shanter. A souple JADE she was and strang.
1807. CRABBE, The Parish Register.
| To let an artful JADE | |
| The close recesses of thine heart invade. |
1863. LONGFELLOW, The Musician’s Tale. A faded old woman, a heathenish JADE.
2. (American thieves’).—A long term of imprisonment; a STRETCH (q.v.).
