Date: Tue, 21 Feb 1995 23:57:45 -0800

From: Anton Sherwood dasher[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]NETCOM.COM

Subject: jakes



Cathy Bodin asks:

"Jack" is obviously derived from French "Jacques." Now, can anyone

tell me why "Jack" is a nickname in English for "John" rather than

for "James," its translation from the French? Just wondering...



The usual(?) explanation is with the diminutive suffix -kin:

Jan-kin / Jon-kin Jack / Jock.



Anton Sherwood *\\* +1 415 267 0685 *\\* DASher[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]netcom.com