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Jacky Howe

(Australia) A type of blue sleeveless shirt worn by sheep shearers and labourers.

ˈd͡ʒæki ˈhaʊDocumented since 1890sSilenthistorical217 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇦🇺 Australian & NZ slang
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Etymology timeline

Born ~1890 · no dated citations yet
1890BornToday, 2026

Definitions

Australia
#1·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(Australia) A type of blue sleeveless shirt worn by sheep shearers and labourers.

Still, no one has ever thought before of associating a papaw with a “Jacky Howe,” or, say, fruit salad with a flannel shirt.
Origin: After the gun shearer John Robert (“Jacky” or “Jackie”) Howe, who in 1890 set a long-standing world record by shearing 321 sheep in 7 hours 40 minutes. He is said to have worn a shirt with the sleeves cut off. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

Jacky Howe means: A type of blue sleeveless shirt worn by sheep shearers and labourers.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

Jacky Howe means: A type of blue sleeveless shirt worn by sheep shearers and labourers.. Register: informal, Australian English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Cluster: sadness
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For specific readers

Jacky Howe means: A type of blue sleeveless shirt worn by sheep shearers and labourers.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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