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John-a-Nokes

noun
variants: or John-a-Noakes \ˌjänəˈnōks\

Definition of John-a-Nokes

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

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Origin and Etymology of john-a-nokes

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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