johnless meaning (rare): definition, etymology and quotations

johnless

adjalso spelled Johnless

Etymology From john (“a device or place for urination and defecation”) + -less (“without”).

US, Rare, Slang Without a device or place for urination and defecation.

With the prancing daffodil-crowned sweetheart of the fourth floor, the worthless canary and all too real fire of the third, with the sleep-disturbing parties of the second, and the oft-times homeless and “johnless” refugees from the first, we have had enjoyable, touching moments which have become unforgetable parts of our life here at Park.1956, “Herr House”, in Kay Brown, editor, Narva 1956, Parkville, Mo.: Park College, →OCLC, page 113:
I guess they sang “In the Mood” sometimes on johnless prison ships making for Manchuria.1962 June, John Clellon Holmes, “A Few Loves, a Few Deaths: 1945-1950”, in William H. Ryan, editor, Contact […], volume 3, number 2 (10 overall), Sausalito, Calif.: Angel Island Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 72, column 2:

3 more examples

From the johnless Statue of Liberty to the “fun” johns of Coney Island, from Bloomingdale’s bargain johns (a much better deal for your money than Macy’s) to the classy and original Four Seasons’ john, from Sloppy Louie’s and Battery Park’s to Tiffany’s and Bergdorf Goodman’s and the Waldorf-Astoria’s (once the greatest set of johns on earth), Mr. Routh has flushed out every john in which you’d be at all interested.1966, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, front and back flaps, in Jonathan Routh, Serena Stewart, The Better John Guide—Where to Go in New York, New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, →LCCN, →OCLC:
Then I told my constituents of an elaboration of my plan: a network of comfort stations centering around the gazebo—a boon to johnless Sausalito.1966, Sally Stanford, chapter 14, in The Lady of the House: The Autobiography of Sally Stanford, New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 244:
‘Are we ready?’ Mary asked. / ‘Do we have a minute for me to use the john?’ Em asked. / ‘We should probably all go,’ Clint said. ‘It might be a long and johnless day.’ / Em laughed, then headed for the toilet.1995, Richard Laymon, chapter 12, in The Quake, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, →ISBN, page 94:

Johnless

adj

Etymology From John + -less.

Rare Without someone named John.

John Smith has been found in Hawaii and nominated for something. He is a rara avis. If you ask your next friend if he ever knew a John Smith, the chances are nine out of nine-and-half that he will say no. The name is often used to pad the directory of some aspiring town but it rarely occurs in real life. John Smith of Hawaii has a most uncommon name. And this reminds us of the Johnless Smith family. It is indeed a large congregation, for the universal prevalence of which there are various theories.1903 September 15, “The Smiths”, in Hawaiian Gazette, volume XXXVIII, number 75 (2521 overall), Honolulu, Hawaii Territory, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4, column 3:
If you are John Smith, you must John-Smith yourself with hourly affirmation; and if you are Cecil Smythe, you must know, with granite certainty, that you are he. You are John or you are Cecil only because you have, with infinite age-long effort, projected yourself out of the mass—the anonymous Johnless and Cecilless collectivity; […]1914, Vance Thompson, “The Hive and The Bee”, in The Ego Book: A Book of Selfish Ideals, New York, N.Y.: E. P. Dutton & Company […], →OCLC, section II, page 156:

4 more examples

Glancing up at the rustic porch she remarked in a lower tone, “We’re in luck, children, Auntie hasn’t even seen us, let alone noticing our Johnless state. She’s still deep in her book. Here comes the worthy John to look after the canoes.”1917, Grace Gordon [pseudonym; Josephine Chase], “A Disquieting Voice”, in Patsy Carroll at Wilderness Lodge, New York, N.Y.: Cupples & Leon Company, →OCLC, page 93:
It was a suburban neighbor of hers and John’s, who frankly and decisively refused to grow old “along with” anybody. The neighbor had, however, no Dear John. […] “Oh, I’d love to ‘stay,’ as far as I am concerned,” sighed the one with a John, removing the pretty little hat and suddenly looking wrinkly and old again; “but the Bible says—no, it’s Browning—that we must grow old along with our Johns.” “Dear Johns,” she added inwardly. / “I don’t see it,” flashed back the neighbor. “Browning ought to have said ‘keep young along with’ ’em, my dear. Go to things——” / “But if John doesn’t like——” / “Take John—make John—wake John!” laughed the Johnless neighbor.1922 July 26, Annie Hamilton Donnell, “Story and Incident: Along with John”, in J. R. Bridges, R. C. Reed, editors, Presbyterian Standard […], volume LXIII, number 30, Charlotte, N.C.: Presbyterian Standard Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 12, columns 3–4:
The brave officers finally ran him down and captured him. But John was in one place; his sack in another. At last they hit on a bright idea; they put John’s arms around a lamp post, handcuffed him, and sauntered off to collect the sack of carnal evidence. Imagine their surprise on their return to find that nimble John had shinned up the lamp post, passed his arms around and over the lamp, and vamoosed, mizzled, skedaddled, levanted, dusted-off, departed—disappeared, as it were, like a jaundiced dream. Sadly the pair returned to the Calaboose, Johnless but not sackless.1936 November, Julian Dana, “‘God—Grant—Victory’”, in The Man Who Built San Francisco: A Study of Ralston’s Journey with Banners, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC, page 270:
Possibly the monetary climax to their whole career came in March 1996, when in the wake of the Anthology documentary and album release, a consortium of promoters offered them an astounding $225 million for a world tour. They turned it down, refusing to be a watered-down, Johnless Beatles. “The size of the offer is scandalous,” said Paul [McCartney]. “But for me the three of us isn’t as exciting as the four of us.”1996, Marvin Martin, “Epilogue”, in The Beatles: The Music Was Never the Same (an Impact biography), New York, N.Y.: Franklin Watts, →ISBN, page 187: