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A proper name of a man. John-apple, a sort of apple ripe about St. John's Day. Same as Apple-john. -- John Bull, an ideal personification of the typical characteristics of an Englishman, or of the English people. -- John Bullism, English character. W. Irving. -- John Doe (Law), the name formerly given to the fictiti…

See St. John's-wort.

A dreamy, idle fellow. Shak.

A familiar diminutive of John.

A kind of bread made of the meal of maize (Indian corn), mixed with water or milk, etc., and baked. [U.S.] J. Barlow.

A tall perennial grass (Sorghum Halepense), valuable in the Southern and Western States for pasture and hay. The rootstocks are large and juicy and are eagerly sought by swine. Called also Cuba grass, Means grass, Evergreen millet, and Arabian millet.

The literary style of Dr. Samuel Johnson, or one formed in imitation of it; an inflated, stilted, or pompous style, affecting classical words. E. Everett.

Pertaining to or resembling Dr. Johnson or his style; pompous; inflated.

A manner of acting or of writing peculiar to, or characteristic of, Dr. Johnson. [Written also Johnsonism.]

A kind of apple which by keeping becomes much withered; -- called also Johnapple. Shak.

A name given to fluor spar in Derbyshire, where it is used for ornamental purposes.

A seller of low-priced or second goods; a hawker.

A glass vessel or bottle with a large body and small neck, inclosed in wickerwork.

A small European fish, similar to the cod, but of inferior quality. Poor-john and apple pies are all our fare. Sir J. Harrington.

A kind of open sedan used in Ceylon, carried by a single pole on men's shoulders.

Of. [Obs.] "The name of John a Gaunt." "What time a day is it " Shak. "It's six a clock." B. Jonson.

To cut off. [R.] "Two syllables . . . abscinded from the rest." Johnson.

Abstract; abstruse; difficult. [Obs.] Johnson.

To thrust away. [Obs.] Johnson.

absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction. His travels were full of absurdities. Johnson.