John Hancock

dʒɒn ˈhænkɒk

2 definitions

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#1·4h ago

(US, idiomatic) A person's signature.

Please put your John Hancock on the dotted line to close the deal.

Origin: (1737–1793), the first person to sign the United States Declaration of Independence. According to legend, he signed his name prominently to be sure George III could read it, causing his name to become an eponym for a signature. However, other examples show that Hancock always wrote his signature this way. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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#2·4h ago

(US, transitive) To sign; to write one's signature on (something).

Billy Rose inked his contract with AGVA this week and the document only needs the signature of Matt Shelvey, head of the union, to put it into effect. Altho the deal was made in mid-summer, John Hancocking by both sides is coming about o…

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