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John Hancock

 
–noun
1. Hancock, John.
2. Informal. a person's signature: Put your John Hancock onthis check.
Origin:
1840–50, Americanism; named after John Hancock, from the boldness and legibility of his signature

Han⋅cock

   [han-kok]
–noun
1. Herbert Jeffrey (Herbie), born 1940, U.S. jazz pianist and composer.
2. John, 1737–93, American statesman: first signer of the Declaration of Independence.
3. Winfield Scott, 1824–86, Union general in the Civil War.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To john hancock
Hancock, John 1737-1793.  
American politician and Revolutionary leader. He was president of the Continental Congress (1775-1777) and the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. Hancock later served nine terms as governor of Massachusetts (1780-1785 and 1787-1793).
John Hancock  
n.   Informal
A person's signature.

[After John Hancock (from the prominence of his signature on the Declaration of Independence).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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john hancock

noun
1.  American revolutionary patriot who was president of the Continental Congress; was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence (1737-1793) [syn: Hancock] 
2.  a person's own signature [syn: autograph] 
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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John Hancock

A signature: “Please help us out and put your John Hancock on our petition.” The expression refers to the bold signature that John Hancock wrote on the Declaration of Independence.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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John Hancock

Also, John Henry. One's signature, as in Just put your John Hancock on the dotted line. This expression alludes to John Hancock's prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence. The variant simply substitutes a common name for "Hancock." [Mid-1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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