subs. phr. (old).—Anybody; MR. THINGAMY (q.v.): Cf. JOHN-A-NOAKES.
1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs, Comic and Satyrical, ‘Song the Last.’
| From John o’ Nokes to TOM O’ STILES, | |
| What is it all but fooling? |
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. Nokes. John-a-Nokes and TOM-A-STYLES, two honest peaceable gentlemen, repeatedly set together by the ears by lawyers … two fictitious names commonly used in law proceedings.
