Janet

Janet

See also: janet and JANET

English

Etymology

Medieval diminutive of Jane. It survived in Scotland and has been revived in all English-speaking countries since the 19th century.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ænɪt

Proper noun

Janet (plural Janets)

1. A female given name.
   • 1733 Allan Ramsay: The Tea-table Miscellany: Or, a Collection of Scots Songs: My Jo Janet:

     Keek into the draw-well, Janet, Janet,

     And there ye'll see ye'r bonny fell, my jo Janet.

   • 1990 Barbara Trapido: Temples of Delight : page 50:

     Alice decided to have lots and lots of children and all of them with lovely names like Amanda-Jane and Arabella and Dominic and Ganymede. - - -

     "But too many children will be expensive," Flora said. "I'm having two and mine aren't called such silly names as yours. Mine are called Andrew and Janet."

     "All right," Alice said, who was by nature accommodating. "Those are nice names, Flora."

2. A hamlet in Alberta, Canada.
3. (US, informal) A highly classified fleet of passenger aircraft used to transport the military and contractors.