Also 7 Kitch, 8– Catch, jack-Ketch. [From the name of John or ‘Jack’ Ketch (sometimes written Catch and Kitch), the common executioner 1663(?)–86. Partly on account of his barbarity at the executions of William Lord Russell, the Duke of Monmouth, and other political offenders, partly perhaps from apt association with the vb. Ketch, CATCH, his name became notorious, was given to the hangman in the puppet-play of Punchinello, introduced from Italy shortly after his death, and became a common appellation. See Dict. Nat. Biog., s.v.] An appellation for the common executioner or hangman.
[1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., 13. Jack Kitch, the proper name of the Common Hangman that is now in being.
1682. Dryden, Dk. of Guise, Epil. 30. ‘Jack Ketch,’ says I ‘is an excellent Physician … But hanging is a fine dry kind of death.’
1683. (title) The Apologie of John Ketch Esq.
1685–6. Luttrell, Diary, 20 Jan. Jack Ketch, the hangman for affronting the Sherifs of London … is turn’d out of his place, and one Rose, a butcher, put in.
1702. T. Brown, Lett. fr. Dead, 48. From Charon to the Most Illustrious and High-born Jack Ketch, Esq.]
1705. Hickeringill, Priest-cr., II. iii. 28. A Priest-ridden Magistrate to be the Jack Ketch, and do the Priest’s drudgery.
1755. Wesley, Wks. (1872), II. 349. He is then a kind of jack-catch, an executioner-general.
1812. Examiner, 18 Oct., 666/2. A few dozen lashes well laid on by Jack Ketch … may be a very appropriate punishment.
[1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v.]
1889. Clark Russell, Marooned, I. 203. If they seize the vessel, it is piracy—a criminal act that ends with Jack Ketch.
