jarvey
Preserved but no longer current.
The driver of a hackney-coach; "JARVEY’S upper Benjamin," a coachman’s overcoat, with many capes. An ingenious etymology has been found for JARVEY, thus:—JARVEY, vernacular for Geoffrey, which was often written Geo. (gee-ho), hence JARVEY. This is open to considerable objection, as George is shortened in similar manner to that shown above. Still it is worthy of record, independently of its ingenuity, being as exact as many accepted derivations.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “jarvey” mean?
The driver of a hackney-coach; "JARVEY’S upper Benjamin," a coachman’s overcoat, with many capes. An ingenious etymology has been found for JARVEY, thus:—JARVEY, vernacular for Geoffrey, which was often written Geo. (gee-ho), hence JARVEY. This is open to considerable objection, as George is shortened in similar manner to that shown above. Still it is worthy of record, independently of its ingenuity, being as exact as many accepted derivations.
Is “jarvey” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.