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