Obs. Forms: 6 Iohn at Noke, of the Nokes, -a-noke, 7 John-a-noakes, an Okes, a Noke, 7–8 -a-Nokes, 7–9 a Nokes. [orig. John atten Oke, i.e., John (who dwells) at the oak.] A fictitious name for one of the parties in a legal action (usually coupled with JOHN-A-STILES as the name of the other); hence sometimes used indefinitely for any individual person.
1531. Dial. on Laws Eng., II. ix. 19. If a man haue lande for terme of lyfe of Iohan at Noke and make a lease.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 53. Doth the Lawyer lye then, when vnder the names of Iohn a stile and Iohn a noakes [Wks. (1622), 520 Iohn of the Stile, & Iohn of the Nokes] hee puts his case?
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 79. Nor indeed is he capable to beare any Rule or Office in Town or Countrey, who is utterly unacquainted with John an Okes, and John a Stiles, and with their Termes.
1714. Spectator, No. 577, ¶ 6. The humble Petition of John a Nokes and John a Stiles, Sheweth, That your Petitioners have had Causes depending in Westminster-Hall above five hundred Years.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xlii. Adventurers who are as willing to plead for John a’Nokes as for the first noble of the land.
