Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US, also Jonathon) a New Englander.

1828		Commercial Advertiser (N.Y.) 21 June 2/2: ‘New-Yark,’ said he — and Jonathan was a frequent visitor to sell his onions and wooden dishes — ‘would be a darnation fine place, if they ever got it done’.
1836		T. Haliburton Clockmaker I 124: Look here, Jonathan, here’s an Englishman.
1838		‘Uncle Sam’s Peculiarities’ in Bentley’s Misc. IV 299: A green, good-natured, money-making Jonathon.
1848		J.R. Lowell Biglow Papers (1880) lix: Jonathan is more like the Englishman of two centuries ago than John Bull himself is.
c.1858		J.H. Green Reformed Gambler 132: The Yankee felt somewhat chagrined at the general’s insinuation [...] After their leaving, the general still caused Jonathan no small uneasiness, by his continued attacks upon his nativity, &c.
1859		Colonist (Aus.) 29 Mar. 4/6: ‘Indeed!’ exclaimed Jonathan, with an air of supercilious scepticism' ‘and pray what kind of concern may it be?’ ‘Why, man,’ replied Sawney, ‘it’s a peacock wi’ a wooden leg!’.
1861		T.F. Upson diary 9 Apr. in Winther With Sherman to the Sea (1958) 9: Jonathan the Rebels have fired upon and taken Fort Sumpter.

2. (orig. US) an American; thus fem. Jonatheena, Sister Jonathan.

1776		London satirical political print Publications Colonial Society of Massachusetts XXXII 376: I swear its plaguy Cold Jonathan; I don’t think They’ll Attack us, Now You [DA].
1780		Royal Gazette 27 May 2/4: [The loyalists] also took and destroyed a piece of cannon, which the Jonathans in vain endeavoured to defend [DAE].
1797		in Publications Colonial Society of Massachusetts XXXII 379: ‘Jonathan’ it is true in the year ’70 was sometimes used by ‘way of derision,’ but no American felt injured by this appellation [DA].
1809		A.B. Lindsley Yankee Notions 9: I am a brother yankee too [...] though I suppose you don’t like me any the better for that, eh! brother Jonathan?
1815		Mass. Spy. 17 May n.p.: An incident ‘highly characteristic of John Bull and Brother Jonathan’ is told in verse.
1825		J.K. Paulding John Bull in America 50: This mode of disposing of my hands [...] occasioned me to bounce about, to the no small inconvenience of these Jonathans.
1827		J. Wight More Mornings in Bow St. 69: [headline] Jonathan In London. An American gentleman [etc.].
1837		Congressional Globe 23 Sept. Appendix 194: John Bull has been at his ease, while Jonathan has been in trouble.
1841		Punch 17 July I iii: Those alien Jonathans, whose adherence to the truth has forced them to emigrate from their native land.
1850		W.K. Northall Life and Recollections of Yankee Hill 37: May he be a star in Europe, and succeed in showing John Bull what brother Jonathan is in his true character.
1851		Dumfries & Galloway Standard (Scot.) 26 Nov. 2/1: Bloomerism [...] a sort of shemale dress [...] a fashion of Sister Jonathon’s. trousers tight at the ankles.
1854		Goulburn Herald 16 Dec. 2/2: Americans [...] strongly imbued with a spirit of hostility to England — or in Jonathan’s own slang, ‘the old country’.
1861		M.E. Braddon Trail of the Serpent 351: He is evidently an American from this remark, though there is very little of Brother Jonathan in his manner.
1862		Liverpool Dly Post 10 Jan. 4/5: The people here laugh, / And think it fine sport, / While ‘Jonathan’ looks like a ‘spoon’.
1874		J.G. McCoy Sketches of the Cattle Trade 408: If Uncle Samuel fails to provide the prequisite – a railroad [...] why, Jonathan will indignantly stay in the land wherein he is a dependent tenant.
1884		W. Shepherd Prairie Experiences 17: The Americans tell you that all Englishmen inherit money from their parents [...]. The great purpose of Nature is to relieve this plethora by transferring the cash into the pockets of Jonathan.
1889		Dead Bird (Sydney) 14 Dec. 6/2: It is likely [...] that Mitchell will be matched against either La Blanche or Dempsey. Jonathan is aiming high.
1891		in Punch 28 Feb. 107: Oh, Canada, dear Canada, we shall not discombobulate / Ourselves concerning JONATHAN.
1900		E.W. Rogers [perf. Marie Lloyd] The Red and The White and The Blue 🎵 John and Jonathan brothers for ever.
1902		Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Nov. 15/4: Bull swears at his men personally and offensively, whereas, though Jonathan is a real nigger-driver, his ‘language’ is directed at the work, and not at the men.
1905		Sun. Times (Perth) 30 July 4/7: Smart people, the Yanks [...] ‘Leave that to me,’ said brother Jonathan.
1918		Better Times Nov. (2006) 314/2: International Handicap Result. John Bull. Jonathan. Alphonse. Dead Heat.

3. an American vessel.

1805

J. Davis Post Captain (1813) 19: The supposed enemy [...] hoisted American colours [...] ‘A Jonothan! by the hookey!’ exclaimed Captain Brilliant.

4. attrib. use of sense 2.

1880

in M. Lewis Mining Frontier (1967) 105: I am not able to say if he is the average Far-West American, of the Jonathan stripe, or not.

5. in derog. use of sense 1, an innocent, a gullible peasant.

1852

Yankee-notions Jan. 5/1: Among the arrivals was one of the genus verdant — a regular, no mistake, Jonathan — with eyes and mouth wide open at the novelties that he met at every turn.