John Hancock

[ jon han-kok ]

noun

1. 1737–93, American statesman: first signer of the Declaration of Independence.
2. Informal. a person's signature:

   Put your John Hancock on this check.

John Hancock

noun

1. informal.
   a person's signature Also calledJohn Henry

   put your John Hancock on this form

Hancock, John

¹

1. A political leader of the eighteenth century. He was president of the Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence was signed, and was the first to sign it, which he did with a large, flamboyant signature.

John Hancock

²

1. A signature: “Please help us out and put your John Hancock on our petition.” The expression refers to the bold signature that John Hancock wrote on the Declaration of Independence .

Notes

A “John Hancock” is a signature.

Word History and Origins

Origin of John Hancock¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50, so called from the boldness and legibility of John Hancock's signature

Word History and Origins

Origin of John Hancock¹

after John Hancock , from his clear and legible signature on the American Declaration of Independence

Idioms and Phrases

Also, John Henry . One's signature, as in Just put your John Hancock on the dotted line . This expression alludes to John Hancock's prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence. The variant simply substitutes a common name for “Hancock.” [Mid-1800s]