jemmy

[ jem-ee ]

verb (used with object)

, jem·mied, jem·my·ing.

1. jimmy ¹.

noun

, plural jem·mies.

1. jimmy ¹.
2. Slang. an overcoat.
3. the baked head of a sheep.

jemmy

/ ˈdʒɛmɪ /

noun

1. a short steel crowbar used, esp by burglars, for forcing doors and windows

verb

1. tr to prise (something) open with a jemmy

Word History and Origins

Origin of jemmy¹

First recorded in 1745–55

Word History and Origins

Origin of jemmy¹

C19: from the pet name for James

Example Sentences

While Kay waited in the car, the men went up to the Poet's Corner door to try to jemmy it open.

From BBC

There have been plenty of miracles in those 14 years - magic passes spun from those conjuror's fingers; side-stepping, slashing bursts through bewildered opponents; impossible off-loads to jemmy open locked defences and steal a game away.

From BBC

Bunton said that he hadn't carried a jemmy and if the toilet window had been shut he would have had to give up.

From The Guardian

Betty, bet′ti, n. a man who troubles himself with the women's work in a household: a slang name for a burglar's jemmy or jenny.

From Project Gutenberg

The door had been wrenched open with a jemmy, and had simply been pulled to on the departure of the intruders.

From Project Gutenberg