Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a hen-pecked husband; thus jerry-sneakery n., henpecking.

1764		Foote Mayor of Garrat in Works (1799) I 169: Why, Jerry Sneak! I say. [...] Here, looby. There lay these things in the hall].
1772		G. Stevens ‘A Caricature’ Songs Comic and Satyrical 177: He is always at Home Sir John Brute to his Wife, / Abroad, Jerry Sneak with his Drab.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Jerry Sneak a henpecked husband, from a celebrated character in one of Mr. Foote’s plays, representing a man governed by his wife.
1793		Sporting Mag. Dec. III 164/2: For himself, he was seldom permitted to speak, / And was cursedly hen-pecked, like poor Jerry Sneak.
1800		Sporting Mag. Oct. XVII 21/2: Next [masquerade character], in point of excellence, was a Jerry Sneak.
1811		Leicester Jrnl 6 Dec. 2/5: Mankind o’er women empire boasts / And claims a right to roam; / But very often blust’ring blades / Are Jerry Sneaks at home.
1821		W. Combe Doctor Syntax, Wife (1868) 257/1: I know, my friend [...] That you would ne’er be brought to speak / In humble tone of Jerry Sneak.
1838		Crim.-Con. Gaz. 24 Nov. 104/3: Although exceedingly effeminate he is idolized by by the Countess of Blessington, and no Jerry Sneak was ever more closely tied to his wife’s apron than Count D’Orsay is to her ladysbhip.
1838		J.C. Neal Charcoal Sketches (1865) 18: Both grey-mareism and Jerry-Sneakery are sometimes latent.
1842		Whip & Satirist of NY & Brooklyn (NY) 9 Apr. n.p.: The Jerry Sneak of a husband [...] gave the required direction.
1843		Satirist & Sporting Chron. (Sydney) 18 Mar. 1/4: We were very sorry to see poor Billy Foster, alias Jerry Sneak, get such a sound drubbing, from his bloated wife [...] she beat him [...] for a full hour, with the broomstick.
1845		R.S. Surtees Hillingdon Hall I 9: A poor, little, henpecked, Jerry Sneak of a husband.
1847		Bell’s Life in Sydney 6 Feb. 3/4: The Right VVorshipful himself has selected ‘Jerry Sneak,’ which he intends to do to the letter, viz. carry his wile’s band-box, pattens, [and] umbrella.
c.1850		Peeping Tom (London) 12 48/3: [advert] jolly companion — Jerry Sneak.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1873		Sl. Dict.
1881		Dr Doran In and About Drury Lane II 13: His obedience to her was that of Jerry Sneak. She would cry out in a room full of people, Johnny, do this; Johnny do that.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1893		Aberdeen Eve. Exp. 20 Jan. 2/6: Leave me [...] Petty abroad, and at home Jerry Sneak. Yes, I must have my Quizzes.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 40: Jerry Sneak, a hen-pecked husband.

2. an informer, a tell-tale.

1836		Leeds Times 19 Nov. 4/1: He did this in his smallest type [...] hoping, we suppose, that he might pass unseen. But [...] we shall fix this Jerry Sneak of the press firm enough.
1849		Sam Sly 3 Feb. supp. 6/2: He advises the mealey-faced baker[...] not to play Jerry Sneak; nor busy himself about his neighbour’s affairs.
1855		Paisley Herald 13 Oct. 3/2: He [...] will not tell what pay he receives for being a spy, a common informer, a jerry sneak, a peeping Tom.