jerry

jer-ry · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    (British slang, dated, often offensive) A German, especially a German soldier in World War I or II.

  2. 2.

    (Jerry) A masculine given name, a pet form of Gerald, Gerard, Jeremiah, or Jerome.

  3. 3.

    Short for jerry can (a type of fuel container).

Forms

plural: jerries

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    jerry-built — built cheaply and poorly
  • •
    jerry can — a flat-sided container for fuel, originally German military design

Related words

See also: Gerald, Jeremiah, Jerome

Etymology

The slang term for German is likely from a pronunciation of German or an alteration of German. The given name Jerry is a diminutive of various names beginning with Ger- or Jer-.