Jehu

[ jee-hyooor, often, -hoo ]

noun

1. (in the Bible) a king of Israel noted for his furious chariot attacks.
2. jehu, a fast driver.
3. jehu, the driver of a cab or coach.

Jehu

/ ˈdʒiːhjuː /

noun

1. Old Testament the king of Israel (?842–?815 bc ); the slayer of Jezebel (II Kings 9:11–30)
2. a fast driver, esp one who is reckless (from the phrase to drive like Jehu . II Kings 9:20)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Jehu¹

First recorded in 1680–90 Jehu fordefs 2, 3; from Hebrew Yēhūʾ “Yah (God) is he,” i.e., “Yahweh is God”

Example Sentences

Illinois Rep. Jehu Baker argued that it was a “disgrace to a free country that the poor and the weak members of society should be denied equal justice and equal protection at the hands of the law.”

From Slate

Rick Froberg, the vocalist and guitarist best known for his work with the influential 1990s post-hardcore band Drive Like Jehu, whose urgent howl was one of rock’s most distinctive voices, died on June 30 in San Diego.

From New York Times

Mr. Reis soon became busy touring with another of his bands, Rocket From the Crypt, and Drive Like Jehu fizzled out after its second album, “Yank Crime.”

From New York Times

Mr. Froberg and Mr. Reis quickly regrouped in Drive Like Jehu, where Mr. Froberg also began playing guitar, inspired by Sonic Youth’s atonal, unorthodox guitar tunings — which “made it seem like you could just do anything you wanted to do,” Mr. Froberg said in a recent web interview.

From New York Times

Drive Like Jehu’s two albums featured dissonant, tightly coiled compositions with off-kilter rhythms and cathartic explosions.

From New York Times