New England affectionate slang for Firefighter. This word was first used as a reference to firemen in the early 20th century in the Greater Boston area, and it's origins are recognized as officially unknown by several authors. While it is now a widely accepted term in the fire service, it is almost exclusively used in New England, and almost exclusively used to bestow great praise and the highest levels of respect. To be called a "Good Jake" is the highest form of praise a Boston area firefighter can possibly receive from a peer.
The term "Jake" is most probably derived from the term "J-Key". The first street-corner fire alarm box system was invented and constructed in the city of Boston, and was based on a telegraph system, novel in its day. Inside each box, next to the automatic alarm mechanism that tripped when someone pulled the hook, there was a small telegraph tapper, called a telegraph key, that firemen could use to communicate back to headquarters once they arrived on scene. As time passed, many World War One veterans had become Boston firefighters, and the telegraphs that these men were familiar with were the U.S. Army issue J-3 portable telegraph key (known as the WWI "trench key"), as well as other military J-Series telegraph keys, which were all known commonly as "J-Keys". These veterans probably used this as a common slang for the keys they used inside their fire alarm boxes.
Being a "Good J-Key" probably meant a fireman who was cool under the pressure and could send clear morse code. "J-Key" was eventually shortened to "Jake", and when spread to the public, "Jake" came to be a common term for firemen in general.
The term "Jake" is most probably derived from the term "J-Key". The first street-corner fire alarm box system was invented and constructed in the city of Boston, and was based on a telegraph system, novel in its day. Inside each box, next to the automatic alarm mechanism that tripped when someone pulled the hook, there was a small telegraph tapper, called a telegraph key, that firemen could use to communicate back to headquarters once they arrived on scene. As time passed, many World War One veterans had become Boston firefighters, and the telegraphs that these men were familiar with were the U.S. Army issue J-3 portable telegraph key (known as the WWI "trench key"), as well as other military J-Series telegraph keys, which were all known commonly as "J-Keys". These veterans probably used this as a common slang for the keys they used inside their fire alarm boxes.
Being a "Good J-Key" probably meant a fireman who was cool under the pressure and could send clear morse code. "J-Key" was eventually shortened to "Jake", and when spread to the public, "Jake" came to be a common term for firemen in general.
My neighbor is a Boston Jake.
That guy from Ladder 29 will always be there when the going gets tough. He's a Good Jake.
That guy from Ladder 29 will always be there when the going gets tough. He's a Good Jake.
by L2Jake October 27, 2005
Get the jakemug. by JM2000 August 25, 2009
Get the Jakingmug. A euphemism for penis. It can be used to describe an actual penis, or to describe the offensive behavior of another.
Reid - Whats wrong with Noel?
Robert - He got kicked in the jake.
Reid - Who did it?
Robert - Lee did, he's being such a jake lately.
Robert - He got kicked in the jake.
Reid - Who did it?
Robert - Lee did, he's being such a jake lately.
by Kevin Edwards February 3, 2007
Get the jakemug. by Moons April 17, 2006
Get the jakemug. A term from the west of Scotland for an alcoholic or drunk person. In the latter case, it is usually applied to underage drinkers.
"Jesus, did you smell that jakey bastard?"
Young Ned- "Haw mister, gonnae go intae that coarner shoap an get us a bottle ae Buckie?"
Mister- "Fuck off you wee jake."
Young Ned- "Haw mister, gonnae go intae that coarner shoap an get us a bottle ae Buckie?"
Mister- "Fuck off you wee jake."
by Paisley_Jake June 1, 2006
Get the jakemug. by uhfsdhfusdh August 9, 2007
Get the jakedmug. by Window January 10, 2008
Get the Jakingmug.