John-a-Stiles

noun

variants or John-a-Styles

ˌjänəˈstī(ə)lz

archaic

: the second party to legal proceedings when the true names of both parties are unknown compare john-a-nokes

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier John at Stile, from the name John + at Stile, probably from Middle English atte stile at the stile

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