jake

Etymology

adj

1. (slang) Adequate; satisfactory; acceptable.
   ‘What do you care? Just keep your nose clean and everything will be jake.’ 1939, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, Penguin, published 2011, page 126
   Wouldn't you just like to see me now, Marion, wouldn't you? I'm not bitter. O no. I'm quite calm. Completely relaxed. But when you come to me in Mayfair when things are as they ought to be, don't try to move in and think things are going to be jake again. 1955, J P Donleavy, The Ginger Man, published 1955 (France), page 289

noun

1. (US) A juvenile male turkey.
   The spring turkey woods are occupied by roaming bands of jakes — year-old males with strong mating urges but inferior body size. 1998, Jerome B Robinson, In the Turkey Woods
2. (New York, Chicago, MTE, MLE, slang) police, a federal government officer.
   A radio is a box, a razor blade is a ox / fat diamonds is rocks and jakes is cops. 1998, Big L, Ebonics (Criminal Slang)
3. (slang) A police officer, a cop (on foot, rather than in a patrol car).
4. (US, slang, uncountable) Jamaica ginger.
   It is possible that the governments have found the cause of the poisoned “jake” in their investigations into the Jamaica ginger deaths throughout the South and Southwest. 1930, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, Administration of Federal Food and Drugs Act: Hearings..., page 1854
5. A Discordian prank involving a large number of people sending bizarre letters or parcels to a targeted individual.
   Hello, I'm afraid in some regards I'm too discordian for my own good and I forgot to either write down the jake-dupe's address, or include it in my repost when I suggested today as jake day.... 1993, selvarv, the keeper of Rig, “Today's impending JAKE!”, in alt.discordia (Usenet)
   It strikes me that organizing a jake over the net is a bad idea, because Hormel could conceivably find out about it before it happens. That's not going to stop me from participating though. 1994, Matthew Morse, “StarTrek”, in alt.discordia (Usenet)
   Call me old fashioned, but this situation is really inappropriate for a jake. […] I mean that a little girl was seriously injured, […] and we, as Discordians, should have more respect for the holy tradition of the jake, and use its powers only for those situations where it can actually do some good, or at least be worth a good laugh. 1999, Jeff X. Mink, “My Christmas Card!”, in alt.discordia (Usenet)

verb

1. (transitive) To play a Discordian prank on (somebody), involving a large number of people sending bizarre letters or parcels to that person.