different between john vs joseph

English

Alternative forms

• John

Etymology

From the male given name John (q.v.), whose ubiquity led to extensive use of the name in generic contexts. Its use for toilets derive from John and Cousin John, which both probably relate to jacques and jakes, used in equivalent senses by the British and Irish.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d??n/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?d??n/

Noun

john (plural johns)

1. (slang) A prostitute's client.
   • 2004, Dennis Cooper, The Sluts, page 233

     In the first part of the video, Thad sucks the john's cock and takes a load in his mouth.

   • 2013, McLachlin CJ, Canada (Attorney General) v. Bedford (2013 SCC 72), para. 62

     In-calls, where the john comes to the prostitute’s residence, are prohibited.

2. (slang, US) A device or place to urinate and defecate: now usually a toilet or lavatory, but also (dated) a chamber pot or outhouse.
3. (slang) A Western man traveling in East Asia.
4. A male mule.

Synonyms

• (prostitute's client): See Thesaurus:prostitute's client
• (device or place for urination and defecation): See Thesaurus:chamber pot, Thesaurus:toilet, and Thesaurus:bathroom

Derived terms

• johnny house
• port-o-john

Translations

References

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

• giehn, gohn (Moselle Franconian)
• jonn (Kölsch)

Etymology

From Old High German g?n, from Proto-Germanic *g?n?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /j??n/

Verb

john (third-person singular present jeht, past tense jeng, past participle jejange)

1. (Ripuarian) to go

English

Etymology

Probably in allusion to Joseph's coat of many colours in Genesis 37:3.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?d???s?f/
• (US) enPR: j?'s?f, IPA^(key): /?d?o?s?f/

Noun

joseph (plural josephs)

1. (sometimes capitalised) A woman's riding habit worn in the 18th century with a long cape and buttons running down the front.

References

• joseph in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• Earl, Alice Morse (1894) Costume of Colonial Times?^[1], C. Scribner's Sons, page 144