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Definition jackanapes

Etymology 1

1450, from “Jack of Naples”, with “of Naples” rendered “a Napes” in vernacular. Originally rendered as Jac Napes, Jac Nape, and Jack Napis in 1450s. Presumably from *Jak a Napes, and original *Jak of Naples, presumably circa 1400. Monkeys were one of many exotic goods from Naples exhibited in Britain, hence acquired the nickname Jack a Napes.

In sense “upstart person”, applied to 15th century William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk, one of the first nouveau riche nobles (risen from merchant class). The family used a collar and chain on their coat of arms, which was an unfortunate choice, as this was more associated with monkey leashes, leading to the derisive nickname Jack Napis for de la Pole, yielding the insult.

Later mis-analyzed as Jack-an-apes (16th and 17th century), leading to folk etymology (taking “ape” from “monkey”). The same process and mis-analysis occurred for fustian of Naples, which became fustian a napes, fustian anapes, etc.

Also attributed to the transition of the playing card 'Knave' to 'Jack' where both cards were associated with the idea of roguery. The 'Jack' became the 'Jack a napes', derived from 'Jack a naipes', 'naipes' being the Spanish for playing card.

Noun

jackanapes (plural jackanapeses)

  1. (obsolete) A monkey.
  2. (dated, derogatory) An impudent or mischievous person.

Etymology 2

Noun

jackanapes

  1. plural of jackanape

Results 167 Words with the letters JACKANAPES

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
12 letter words with the letters JACKANAPES 
10 letter words with the letters JACKANAPES 
8 letter words with the letters JACKANAPES 
7 letter words with the letters JACKANAPES 
6 letter words with the letters JACKANAPES 
APNEAS 10
CANAPE 13
JACANA 19
JAPANS 19
PAEANS 10
PAESAN 10
PECANS 13
PEKANS 14
SANJAK 20
5 letter words with the letters JACKANAPES 
APACE 11
APEAK 12
CAKES 12
CAPES 11
JACKS 21
JAKES 18
JANES 15
JAPAN 18
JAPES 17
JEANS 15
KANAS 10
KANES 10
KAPAS 12
KNAPS 13
NECKS 13
PACAS 11
PACES 11
PACKS 15
PEAKS 12
PECAN 12
PECKS 15
PEKAN 13
SCAPE 11
SKEAN 10
SNACK 13
SNAKE 10
SNEAK 10
SNECK 13
SPACE 11
SPAKE 12
SPANK 13
SPEAK 12
SPECK 15
4 letter words with the letters JACKANAPES 
ACES 7
ACNE 8
ANAS 5
ANES 5
ANSA 5
APES 7
APSE 7
ASEA 4
CAKE 11
CANE 8
CANS 8
CAPE 10
CAPS 10
CASA 7
CASE 7
CASK 11
CEPS 10
JACK 20
JAKE 17
JANE 14
JAPE 16
JEAN 14
KAAS 8
KAES 8
KANA 9
KANE 9
KAPA 11
KEAS 8
KENS 9
KEPS 11
KNAP 12
NAPE 8
NAPS 8
NEAP 8
NECK 12
PACA 10
PACE 10
PACK 14
PACS 10
PANE 8
PANS 8
PASE 7
PEAK 11
PEAN 8
PEAS 7
PECK 14
PECS 10
PENS 8
SACK 11
SAKE 8
SANE 5
SANK 9
SCAN 8
SKEP 11
SNAP 8
SPAE 7
SPAN 8
SPEC 10
3 letter words with the letters JACKANAPES 
AAS 3
ACE 6
ANA 4
ANE 4
APE 6
ASK 7
ASP 6
CAN 7
CAP 9
CEP 9
ENS 4
KAE 7
KAS 7
KEA 7
KEN 8
KEP 10
NAE 4
NAP 7
PAC 9
PAN 7
PAS 6
PEA 6
PEC 9
PEN 7
PES 6
SAC 6
SAE 3
SAP 6
SEA 3
SEC 6
SEN 4
SKA 7
SPA 6
2 letter words with the letters JACKANAPES 
AA 2
AE 2
AN 3
AS 2
EN 3
ES 2
KA 6
NA 3
NE 3
PA 5
PE 5

You can also try words with the phrase JACKANAPES, words starting with the letters JACKANAPES, or words ending in the letters JACKANAPES.