Jack-a-Lent

noun

ˈjak-ə-ˌlent How to pronounce Jack-a-Lent (audio)
1
: a small stuffed puppet set up to be pelted for fun in Lent
2
: a simple or insignificant person

Word History

Etymology

jack entry 1 + a (of) + Lent

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Jack-a-Lent was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near Jack-a-Lent

jackalegs

Jack-a-Lent

jackalope

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Jack-a-Lent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Jack-a-Lent. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...