Jerry-built
Origin
- A pejorative of unknown origin concerning 'Jerry'
- or a derivation of 'jury-rigged', which is from nautical term for a short-term replacement of the mast and yards. This is less likely as it seems to be an American English formation of later dating.
Adjective
adjective
- Built cheaply and shoddily.
- 1859, August 6, Albany Fonblanque, Junr., Once a Week, article Sebastopol Villa:He had tried other building speculations, had run up other “jerry-built†houses, and had failed utterly, hopelessly.
- 1859, L. B. E., Cottoniron; a Poem, part 1, canto 3:Reigns supreme for jerry-built
Like cakes o' gingerbread, that crumble,
And in another century 'll tumble