[prob. short for JERRY-BUILT.] Constructed unsubstantially of bad materials.
1882. Lanc. Gloss., Jerry, bad, defective, and deceptive;… a jerry building is one that is badly built, although it may look well outwardly.
1892. Ld. Egerton, in Times, 31 Aug., 9/4. A jerry canal would never have commanded the confidence of the public.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 6 April, 4/3. No matter how jerry the main structure of a house may be, if it is nicely decorated and finished inside … they [the public] will rent or buy it readily.
So Jerryism, jerry-building.
1885. Aberdeen Jrnl., 19 June, 6/4. The cheap jerryism of the building yards. Ibid., 30 Dec., 2/6. The Penedo … broke in two and foundered in a couple of minutes. This … is a very violent illustration of jerryism.
