Poor ˈJohn, ˈpoor-john
[f. poor a. + proper name John: cf. prec.]
1. A name for hake (or ? other fish) salted and dried for food; often a type of poor fare. ? Obs. exc. Hist.
| c 1585 T. Cates Drake's Voy. W. Indies in Hakluyt's Voy. (1905) X. 100 In this ship was great store of dry Newland fish, commonly called with us Poore John. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. i. 37. a 1612 Harington Epigr. ii. l, Poore-Iohn, and Apple-pyes are all our fare. 1657 R. Ligon Barbadoes (1673) 113 Two barrels of salt Fish, and 500 poor-Johns, which we have from New England. 1695 Congreve Love for L. ii. vii, I warrant nou he'd rather eat a Pheasant, than a Piece of poor John. 1769 Pennant Zool. III. 157 When cured it [the hake] is known by the name of Poor John. 1841 Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) p. xlii, Salted cod, and hake or Poor John, had been in long esteem as Lenten food. |
† b. Applied to a person. Obs.
| 1589 Pappe w. Hatchet 29 It is your poore Johns, that with your painted consciences haue coloured the religion of diuers. |
2. Name for some sea bird. ? Obs.
| 1775 Dalrymple in Phil. Trans. LXVIII. 399 A. M. saw a bird like a booby, but shorter winged and necked, called by sailors, poor John. 1778 Ibid. 404 Saw several poor Johns, some sheerwaters, and a young alcatrass. |