Talk:jagoff

Etymology

I don't think the stated derivation of the term is correct. See: <http://english.cmu.edu/pittsburghspeech/alphabetH_O.html> 12.24.244.131 19:36, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

That is right. The correct derivation is from "JAG Off." the abbreviation for a Justice Advocate General Officer.— This unsigned comment was added by 69.238.171.100 (talk) at 00:55, 13 December 2008 .

It actually derives from jackoff, doesn't it? 173.88.246.138 00:00, 30 July 2021 (UTC)

Yes, 'jackoff' is the correct etymology. The transition from 'jack' to 'jag' is natural to Pittsburghese (hard k to hard g, so 'backpack' comes out 'bagpag'). A jagoff is a person who teases you with lies or empty promises in an effort to make you look foolish (preferably in public) when you do or say something that indicates you fell for their ploy. To retaliate, you call them a jagoff. The relation to 'jackoff' is to self-masturbation: self-pleasuring with hints of perversion. The jagoff gets their delight from using another without providing reciprocal pleasures. Every prankster is a jagoff, but there are other kinds of jagoffs (e.g., conmen).

The popular etymology from 'jag' (related to thorns and that kind of prick) seems to have arisen from uninformed radio DJs openly speculating on air about the etymology and tying the idea of provoking (jagging) someone with the Pittsburgh word for 'thornbush' ('jaggerbush'), and 'thorns' ('jaggers'), which is a fair guess, but a) it does not account for the 'off', b) a thorn gets no delight from jabbing people c) there's no evidence the word was ever used to refer to thorn bushes ("That rosebush is a jagoff" is not an instance of good usage), and d) the etymology is not in keeping with American tendencies to associate curse words with sex acts.

'Jagoff' (noun) refers to a person and is frequently shortened to 'jag' ("You jag!"). The verb form drops the '-off' or treats it as separable ("Stop jagging me", or "You're jagging me off"). Sometimes 'jagging someone off' is a sign of endearment ("We jag each other all the time" or "She's just jagging") that has no sexual implications and is akin to 'ribbing' but a bit more edgy or harsh (arising from Pittsburgh's tough-guy ideal: one who can punch hard [physically or verbally], but can also take such punches, and who has heartfelt admiration and true friendly feelings for those who can do the same—even if discovering this involved a nasty punch in the nose). This gentler form of jagging often substitutes 'around' for 'off' ("We were just jagging around").

Currently, due to the included sense of causing delight, there is no abstract noun ("That scam is a jagoff"), and the verb always refers to personal action ("I'm jagging") not an impersonal process ("The internet jagged me off"), though this sentence might inspire those uses. 136.142.159.13 20:00, 19 February 2024 (UTC)