jinnet

jinnet (plural jinnets)

1. (chiefly Ireland) Alternative form of jennet
   • 1863, Great Britain Public Record Office, Calendar of State Papers, Foreign Series, of the Reign of Elizabeth: Preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty’s Public Record Office Volume 14‎, page 206:

     This morning the Bishop of Ross has sent to me for a passport for the Abbot of Lindores, his kinsman, who takes with him a Spanish jinnet, and means to go from Dieppe to England, and so into Scotland.

   • 1870, Robert Curtis, Rory of the Hills: An Irish Tale‎, page 214:

     “It was herself sent Jamesy Doyle for the jinnet, Judy; I heerd her tellin’ him to put plenty of straw into the cart.

   • 1898, Hans Peter Nielsen Gammel, Cadwell Walton Raines, George Preston Finlay, David Edward Simmons, The Laws of Texas 1822-1897‎, page 685:

     CHAPTER XLVII. An act to regulate the straying of stock, in certain counties therein named. Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That hereafter when any stray horse, mare, colt, mule, Jack, or jinnet, shall be found on the plantation or land of any citizen of this State […]

   • 1960, John B. Keane, Sharon’s Grave: A Folk Play in Two Acts‎, page 27:

     A jinnet he had and the White Knight he used to call him. That same jinnet was a born gentleman.

   • 1997, Paddy O’Gorman, Paddy’s People‎, page 70:

     We had a jinnet and a cart and a tent. Sometimes the farmers would let us sleep in their sheds when we we’re working on the farms.

2. (Ireland, by extension) A stupid person; an ass.
   • 2011 April, Dermot Healy, Long Time, No See‎, page 107:

     Isn’t it disgraceful you? Yes, I said. So why are you laughing, you jinnet.

   • 2012 July 12, Pat McCabe, The Dead School‎, page 3:

     She was only codding. Or ‘acting the jinnet’ as his da called it. Man, dear, but your mother’s an awful woman for acting the jinnet,’ he’d say.

   • 2013 July 25, Elaine Crowley, The Ways Of Women‎:

     ‘You’re looking very tired - did she keep you awake?’ ‘No, she’s as good as gold.’ ‘Not like him, he’s a crying jinnet.