jerry

¹

[ jer-ee ]

adjective

, Building Trades Slang.

1. of inferior materials or workmanship.

Jerry

²

[ jer-ee ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Gerald, Gerard, Jeremiah, and Jerome.
2. a female given name, form of Geraldine.

jerry

³

[ jer-ee ]

noun

, Chiefly British Slang.

, plural jer·ries.

1. a chamber pot.

Jerry

⁴

[ jer-ee ]

noun

, Older Slang: Sometimes Offensive.

, plural Jer·ries.

1. a German, especially a German soldier.
2. Germans collectively.

Jerry

¹

/ ˈdʒɛrɪ /

noun

1. a German, esp a German soldier
2. the Germans collectively

   Jerry didn't send his bombers out last night

jerry

²

/ ˈdʒɛrɪ /

noun

1. an informal word for chamber pot
2. short for jeroboam

Sensitive Note

Jerry was a nickname used by Allied soldiers for a German soldier during World War I, but it was more commonly used in World War II.

Word History and Origins

Origin of jerry¹

First recorded in 1875–80; short for jerry-built

Origin of jerry²

1820–30; short for Jeroboam (because if one drank such a large amount of liquid, one would have to void urine during the night)

Origin of jerry³

First recorded in 1910–15; Ger(man) + -y ¹