Jesus Murphy and Joseph (exclamation)
"Jesus Christ!" is an expletive interjection expressing anger, surprise or frustration. "Jesus Murphy!" is a variation of this that has been popularly used in Canada. “Jesus…
Jewyorican or Juyorican (Jew + Nuyorican)
A "Jewyorican" or "Juyorican" (Jew + Nuyorican) is a New Yorker whose heritage is part Jewish and part Puerto Rican. The term "Jewyorican" has been popularized by…
Joe Doakes
"Joe Doakes" is a name for an anonymous person, like "John Doe" or "John Q. Citizen." "Joe Doakes" supposedly is a circus name that originated with P. T.…
Joe Sixpack (Jane Sixpack)
"Joe Sixpack" (also "Joe Six-pack" or "Joe Six Pack") is a name for the average Joe -- someone who works hard and enjoys a six-pack of beer. According to William…
John Chinaman (John Confucius)
"John Chinaman" is a term used to describe someone of Chinese descent that was popular in the 19th century. "John Chinaman" was cited in print in 1826 and "John…
John Q. Public (Jane Q. Public)
"John Q. Public" is a name for the average citizen. "John Public" has been cited in print since at least 1920. "John Q. Public" has been cited in print since 1922,…
Jughead
"Jughead" (Jones) is the name of a character in the Archie comic strip, starting in December 1941. The United Homeless Organization (UHO) has members in front of many New York businesses,…
Kosher Nostra (Jewish Mafia)
"Kosher Nostra" is a pun on the name "Cosa Nostra" (meaning "our thing"), another name for the Sicilian mafia. "Kosher Nostra" is cited in print from at…
Kris Kringle
Entry in proress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Kris KringleKris Kringle is a name used in the United States and may refer to:. Santa Claus, by assimilation in the United States of the separate German…
Ladies Who Lunch
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Ladies who lunchLadies who lunch is a phrase often used to describe well-off, well-dressed women who meet for social luncheons, usually during the working week.…
Lamb (stock market gullible investor)
The stock market's "bulls" and "bears" originally come from England. However, the stock market "lamb" (gullible investor) comes from New York. The term is not…
Lavender Set
"Lavender" is/was an LGBTQ nickname, and the term "lavender set" was used for the community. "L.I. cops have started a campaign to rid Fire Island of its lavender set"…
Line Waiter (Queuer)
A professional "line waiter" receives money for waiting in line on behalf of someone else. A "line waiter" (who waits in line) is the same as a "queuer" (who waits in…
Litterbug (Litter Bug)
"Litterbug" (also spelled "litter-bug" or "litter bug") is a term that comes from the "jitterbug" era of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Many city…
Little Necker (inhabitant of Little Neck, Queens)
"Little Necker” is the name of an inhabitant of Little Neck, in the borough of Queens. The name “Little Necker” has been cited in print since at least 1907. A "Little Necker"…
Living Landmarks
The private New York Landmarks Conservancy began naming "living landmarks" at a fundraising dinner in 1994. These are "New Yorkers who have made New York New York." One example…
Lounge Lizards; Tea Hounds; Tango Pirates
"Lounge lizards" and "tea hounds" and "tango pirates" (and "gigolos") infested Broadway about the year 1917. These were men who frequented the tea rooms.…
Lush Worker
A "lush worker" is a pickpocket who preys on drunks. People who fall asleep in the subway often get pickpocketed, and the term "lush worker" has been applied to these…
Mad Men (Madison Avenue admen)
The television show Mad Men premiered on July 19, 2007 and looks at the "ad men" of Madison Avenue in the 1960s (when the advertising professionals were mostly men). The term "mad…
Mafia Cop
New York City detectives Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito were accused in 2005 of also working for the Luchese crime family. They were quickly dubbed "Mafia cops" and were convicted…