Jingo
Origin
From the minced oath by jingo, which was used in a music hall song, written ca. 1878 by G. W. Hunt, that supported Britain's then belligerent attitude towards Russia. In this context, a euphemism for Jesus, influenced by the meaningless presto-jingo used by conjurors. A connection with the Basque jainko ("god") has been suggested, but evidence is lacking.
Full definition of jingo
Noun
jingo
(plural jingoes)- One who supports policy favouring war.
- 1897 June 19, Carl Schurz, in , reprinted in 1913, (editor), Speeches, Correspondence and Political Papers of Carl Schurz,The fact is that Mr. Roosevelt has always with perfect frankness confessed himself to be what is currently called a Jingo.
- 1908, G. K. Chesterton, ,He is the jingo of the universe; he will say, "My cosmos, right or wrong."
- 1995, Bradford Perkins, The Cambridge History of American Foreign Relations: The American Search for Opportunity, 1865–1913,"We are all jingoes now," the New York Sun wrote immediately after the 1898 war, "and the head jingo is the Hon. William McKinley."