Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One who vociferously supports one's country, especially one who supports a belligerent foreign policy; a chauvinistic patriot.
  • adjective Of or relating to a chauvinistic patriot.
  • adjective Characterized by chauvinistic patriotism.
  • interjection Used for emphasis or to express surprise.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To force to a certain course of action by the influence of the Jingo spirit, that is, an aggressive bellicose patriotism.
  • noun A name used in the oath “by jingo,” sometimes extended to “by the living jingo”: as, I won't do it, by jingo.
  • noun [capitalized] A member of a section of the Conservative or Tory party in Great Britain which advocated a spirited foreign policy.
  • Belonging or relating to the Jingoes: as, the Jingo policy; Jingo bluster. See I., 2.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A word used as a jocular oath.
  • noun Cant, Eng. A statesman who pursues, or who favors, aggressive, domineering policy in foreign affairs; a bellicose superpatriot or chavinist.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun One who supports policy favouring war.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an extreme bellicose nationalist

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From the phrase by jingo, used in the refrain of a bellicose 19th-century English music-hall song, from alteration of Jesus.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the minced oath by jingo, which was used in a popular 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.

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Examples

Comments

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  • (n): one who loves and defends his country right or wrong.

    April 15, 2009