or jolter-head, subs. (old).—A blockhead: for synonyms, see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1

  1593.  SHAKESPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, iv. 1. You heedless JOLTHEADS, and unmannered slaves!

2

  1595.  SHAKESPEARE, Two Gentlemen of Verona, iii. 1. Launce, Fie on thee, JOLT-HEAD! thou canst not read.

3

  1605.  JONSON, Volpone, or the Fox, v. 8.

        And your red saucy cap, that seems to me
Nailed to your JOLT-HEAD.

4

  1658.  R. BROME, The Covent-Garden Weeded, ii., 1, p. 23. Croff. Sir JOLTHEAD, do I not. I’le teach you to chop logick, with me.

5

  1690.  D’URFEY, Collin’s Walk through London and Westminster, C. 11, p. 79.

        And shall I not, with reverence low,
Presume to ask who’s the JOLT-HEAD now?

6

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. JOLTER-HEAD, a vast large Head; also Heavy and Dull. To jolt or Shake, jolting or shaking of a Coach.

7

  1691–2.  Gentlemen’s Journal, March, p. 14. The blows he had received on his JOLT-HEAD made him fall into convulsions.

8

  1707.  WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, 11, pt. i, p. 6.

        Then looking very stern and dread,
He bridles up his JOLTER HEAD.

9

  1725.  A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.

10

  1748.  T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). JOLT or JOLTER-HEAD (S.) a large head; also a dull, stupid fellow, or blockhead.

11

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. JOLTER HEAD, a long head; metaphorically, a stupid fellow.

12

  1811.  GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

13

  1822.  SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, viii. I should like to know whether her little conceited noddle, or her father’s old crazy, calculating JOLTER-PATE, breeds most whimsies.

14

  1825.  G. KENT, Modern Flash Dictionary, s.v. JOLTER HEAD—a heavy dull blustering landlord.

15

  1843.  DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, li. p. 490. It isn’t hanging yet for a man to keep a penn’orth of poison for his own purposes, and have it taken from him by two old crazy JOLTER-HEADS who go and act a play about it.

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