Jeames
† a. Obs. form of the personal name James. b. In mod. use (after Thackeray), a ludicrous name for a liveried footman (pron. dʒiːmz). Hence Jeames-ism nonce-wd., flunkeyism.
| c 1600 Norden Spec. Brit., Cornw. Ded., To the most high and mightie Prince Ieames, by diuine prouidence, kinge of Englande, Scotland, Fraunce, and Irelande. Ibid. (1728) 22 That is betwene St. Jeames tide and the feast of All Saynts. 1846 Thackeray (title) The Diary of C. Jeames de la Pluche, Esq. 1859 ― Virgin. xxxvii, Jeames with his cocked hat and long cane, [is] passing out of the world. 1875 J. Grant One of the ‘600’ xv, She and her family..attended by a tall ‘Jeames’ in plush. 1883 Athenæum 13 Oct. 459/1 ‘Students of the social history and manners of courts’—which seems to be the latest modern euphemism for ‘Jeames-ism’ in literature. |