Joe

or joey, subs. (common).—1.  A fourpenny piece [For derivation see quot. 1841 and cf. BOB].

  1841.  E. HAWKINS, The Silver Coins of England, 257. These pieces are said to have owed their existence to the pressing instance of Mr. [Joseph] Hume, from whence they, for some time, bore the nick-name of JOEYS.

  1842.  Punch’s Almanack, Aug. Each baited with a JOEY.

  1851–61.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, ii. 218. The chance hands are sometimes engaged for half a day, and, I was told, jump at a bob and a JOEY (1s. 4d.), or at a bob.

  1865.  H. KINGSLEY, The Hillyars and the Burtons, xlii. A young man as has owed me a JOEY ever since the last blessed Greenwich fair.

  1869.  WHYTE-MELVILLE, M. or N., p. 66. ‘Done for another JOEY,’ replied Buster, with the premature acuteness of youth foraging for itself in the streets of London.

  1883.  Antiquary, April, p. 168, col. 2. The fourpenny piece was coined for the first time, after a lapse of two centuries, in the reign of William IV., and it owed its existence to the pressing instance of ‘JOEY’ Hume, after whom it obtained the name of JOEY.

  1889.  Pall Mall Gazette, 9 Oct., p. 5, col. 3. The docker’s wife was worth her JOEY, which it may be explained is ‘East-end’ for fourpence.

  1892.  SYDNEY WATSON, Wops the Waif, p. 13. A bob, a tanner, a JOEY, and a brown.

  2.  (common).—See JOE MILLER.

  3.  (American university).—A watercloset. For synonyms, see MRS. JONES.

  4.  (nautical).—A marine: see JOSEPH.

  5.  (American).—A lobster too small for sale; i.e., one under ten inches long.

  6.  (old).—A gold coin. (Portu. and Braz.) = 8 to 9 dollars. Also DOUBLE-JOE.

  1825.  NEAL, Brother Jonathan, II. xxiii. JOES to coppers that she speaks to me.

  1837.  R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, Preface v. The old house is full of shooting-jackets, shot-belts, and ‘DOUBLE JOES.’

  7.  (old).—A companion; a sweetheart.

  d. 1529.  SKELTON, Against the Scottes, in Wks. (DYCE), i. 185. Kynge Jamy,… my JO.

  1659.  R. BROME, The English Moor, in Wks. (1873), i. 3. Clap him, and stroke him: Ha, my JOE.

  1635.  GLAPTHORNE, The Hollander, in Wks. (1874), i. 151. The Twibil Knights, confusion to them, my JO, had made me drunke.

  1727.  RAMSAY, And I’ll awa’ to Bonny Tweed-side, in Wks. (1848), ii. 244.

  d. 1796.  BURNS, ‘John Anderson, my JO’ [Title].

  Verb. (theatrical).—To deride; TO GET AT (q.v.); to take liberties with the text, ‘business,’ or audience.

  1865.  H. KINGSLEY, The Hillyars and the Burtons, liii. Gertie adduced the fate of the children who had called after—or, as she expressed, JOED—the prophet Elisha.

  1866.  Pall Mall Gazette, 23 Jan., p. 244. There they was JOEYING away in style, making the people laugh until the house shook again.

  NOT FOR JOE.—See JOSEPH.

  JOE MANTON, subs. (old).—A name given to fowling-pieces made by Joseph Manton, a celebrated London gunsmith. Also MANTON.