arch. Also -o’-Lent, -of Lent. [See A prep.]
1. A figure of a man, set up to be pelted: an ancient form of the sport of ‘Aunt Sally,’ practised during Lent. Hence fig. a butt for every one to throw at. arch.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., V. v. 134. See now how wit may be made a Iacke-a-Lent when ’tis vpon ill imployment.
1604. W. Terilo, Fr. Bacon’s Proph., 162, in Hazl., E. P. P., IV. 274. Ever upon Easter day, Al Jack a Lents were cast away.
1633. B. Jonson, Tale Tub, IV. iii. Thou … Travell’dst to Hampstead Heath on Ash We’nesday. Where thou dist stand six weeks the Jack of Lent For boys to hurl, three throws a penny, at thee.
1682. Shadwell, Medal, 295. Those Factious Few … Set up a Jack of Lent, and throw at it.
1813–49. Brand’s Pop. Antiq., I. 101.
1863. Chambers’ Bk. of Days, I. 240/2.
2. transf. A puppet; an insignificant or contemptible person. arch.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. iii. 27. You litle Iack-a-Lent, haue you bin true to vs?
1654. G. Goddard, in Introd. Burton’s Diary (1828), I. 83. To make the Parliament a mere Jack-a-Lent, and as insignificant a nothing as the single person.
1702. Vanbrugh, False Friend, III. ii. What encouragement have I given you, Jack-a-Lent, to attack me with your tenders?
1884. T. Hardy, Wessex T., Interlopers at the Knap (1889), 190. Can a jack-o’-lent believe his few senses on such a dark night, or can’t he?
† 3. A Lenten dish; a Lenten faster; Lent personified. Obs.
1643. Char. Oxf. Incendiary, in Harl. Misc. (1745), V. 471/2. A Jack-a-Lent, made of a red Herring and a Leek.
1655. Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Improv. (1746), 261. Sprats need no description, being one of Jackalent’s principal Pages.
† 4. = JACK-O’-LANTERN 2. Obs.
c. 1717. Lett. fr. Mist’s Jrnl. (1722), I. 99. The [Aurora Borealis] is as frequent in the Northern Countries as a Jack of Lent is here.
