jazey

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A wig. A corruption of JERSEY, the name for flax prepared in a peculiar manner, of which common wigs were formerly made; "the cove with the JAZEY," i.e., the judge.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
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 “jazey” mean?

A wig. A corruption of JERSEY, the name for flax prepared in a peculiar manner, of which common wigs were formerly made; "the cove with the JAZEY," i.e., the judge.

Is “jazey” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.