Jonny

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An informal term for a condom; a familiar male given name used predominantly in English-speaking countries; slang referring to a soldier, especially in British contexts
2. A colloquial name commonly assigned to males; a casual expression for protective contraceptive devices; British slang for a common infantryman
3. A casual masculine first name in English usage; a slang term for a prophylactic; a term denoting a private soldier in the British army or similar military roles

Etymology: "Jonny" is a diminutive of "John," the most common male given name in English for centuries. "John" comes from Late Latin "Johannes," which in turn came from Greek "Ioannes" and the Hebrew "Yochanan," meaning roughly "God is gracious." English had "John" from the Old English period, and it was carried through the Middle Ages by Norman-influenced forms such as "Jehan" and "Jan." The "-y" ending is a pet-form suffix, the same one found in "Billy" from "William," "Tommy" from "Thomas," and "Danny" from "Daniel." Such endings were attached to given names mainly from the late Middle Ages onward, with "Jack" (itself a diminutive of John) possibly being the earliest and most influential example. "Jonny" with a double "n" is the spelling most often used for the familiar form, while "Johnny" is the more common variant in older and American usage.