Who is a 'John-a-Droynes'?
'John-a-Droynes' is a foolish character in Whetstone's 'Promos and Cassandra' (1578) who stands dazed while informers cheat him of his money. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), human-proofread transcription on English Wikisource records: “A foolish character in Whetstone's Promos and Cassandra (1578). Being seized by informers, he stands dazed, and suffers himself to be quietly cheated out of his money.”
Origin
- Verbatim from Brewer's (1898): A foolish character in Whetstone's Promos and Cassandra (1578). Being seized by informers, he stands dazed, and suffers himself to be quietly cheated out of his money.
How to use it
- Modern usage: 'John-a-Droynes' is a foolish character in Whetstone's 'Promos and Cassandra' (1578) who stands dazed while informers cheat him of his money.
- When quoting the origin, cite Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898) — this is a 19th-century record, not a modern etymology.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.