Jizz (1 Viewer)

The earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary (Supplement H-N, 1976) is from Coward's 1922 book "Bird haunts & nature memories", and is the quote that Tony wrote out for us. So that may well be how it got into English.

Anyone know any Irish English? I tried "English as we speak it in Ireland" by P.W. Joyce, but couldn't find it there.

Incidentally, the "kangaroo" story is, as we say round here, a furphy. The word comes from an Aussie language called Guugu Yimidhirr, and refers to an adult male euro (the big kangaroo Macropus robustus). But people naturally prefer the fun version. It's like demonising snakes and sharks. We Aussies don't like to be reminded that more of us die from bee stings.

Rufus

I'd always assumed it came from 'gist' but have to say I prefer JW's version !

As for 'the cut of his jib', this phrase came about during the 19th Century, and was a sea term but with a slightly different meaning. It was principally used in weighing up an enemy, by looking at the way an enemy 'cut his jib' meant how well his ship was being handled, how trim the sails were, correct seamanship etc ... and hence ; what level of adversary he was.