John-a-Nokes

noun

variants or John-a-Noakes

ˌjänəˈnōks

archaic

: a party to legal proceedings whose true name is unknown

as willing to plead for John-a-Nokes as for the first noble of the land

—Sir Walter Scott

compare john-a-stiles

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier John at Noke, from the name John + at Noke, probably from Middle English atten ok at the oak tree

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