ˈJack-a-ˈLent arch.
Also -o'-Lent, -of Lent.
[See a prep.]
1. A figure of a man, set up to be pelted: an ancient form of the sport of ‘Aunt Sally’, practised during Lent. Hence fig. a butt for every one to throw at. arch.
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. v. v. 134 See now how wit may be made a Iacke-a-Lent when 'tis vpon ill imployment. 1604 W. Terilo Fr. Bacon's Proph. 162 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 274 Ever upon Easter day, All Jack a Lents were cast away. 1633 B. Jonson Tale Tub iv. iii, Thou..Travell'dst to Hampstead Heath on Ash We'nesday. Where thou dist stand six weeks the Jack of Lent For boys to hurl, three throws a penny, at thee. 1682 Shadwell Medal 295 Those Factious Few..Set up a Jack of Lent, and throw at it. 1813–49 Brand's Pop. Antiq. I. 101. 1863 Chambers' Bk. of Days I. 240/2. |
2. transf. A puppet; an insignificant or contemptible person. arch.
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iii. iii. 27 You litle Iack-a-Lent, haue you bin true to vs? 1654 G. Goddard in Introd. Burton's Diary (1828) I. 83 To make the Parliament a mere Jack-a-Lent, and as insignificant a nothing as the single person. 1702 Vanbrugh False Friend iii. ii, What encouragement have I given you, Jack-a-Lent, to attack me with your tenders? 1884 T. Hardy Wessex Tales, Interlopers at Knap (1889) 190 Can a jack-o'-lent believe his few senses on such a dark night, or can't he? |
† 3. A Lenten dish; a Lenten faster; Lent personified. Obs.
| 1643 Char. Oxf. Incendiary in Harl. Misc. (1745) V. 471/2 A Jack-a-Lent, made of a red Herring and a Leek. 1655 Moufet & Bennet Health's Improv. (1746) 261 Sprats need no description, being one of Jackalent's principal Pages. |
† 4. = Jack-o'-lantern 2. Obs.
| c 1717 Lett. fr. Mist's Jrnl. (1722) I. 99 The [Aurora Borealis] is as frequent in the Northern Countries as a Jack of Lent is here. |