Jockey
/ˈdʒɒk.i/noun
A person who rides horses in races, especially professionally.
Did you know?The word entered English as slang, and for centuries it could also mean a trickster or sharp operator, which is why it still feels like a word with a little hustle built in.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
joky / jocky
“A familiar nickname or slang term for a man, especially a young one; later also a trickster or sharper.”
16th Century
English
Jockey
“A man or boy; also a horse-dealer, horseman, or one who handles horses.”
17th Century
English
Jockey
“To cheat, trick, or deal shrewdly; also to manage or maneuver by underhand means.”
18th Century
English
Jockey
“A professional rider of racehorses.”
Modern English
English
Jockey
“A person who rides horses in races, especially professionally.”
Explore more surprising origins