• 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

    1. 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
    Houses tricked out with gorgeous gilt,
    Like cakes o' gingerbread, that crumble,
    And in another century 'll tumble
    © Wiktionary