What does jerry mean?
Jerry is an informal noun with a small but varied range of meanings. Its best-known use, especially in British English, is for a portable chamber pot, as in the old-fashioned practice of keeping a jerry beside the bed. In British and Australian English, jerry can also denote a male sheep, although “ram” is more common in modern usage. An older or regional sense refers to a small earthenware container for water. The word can sound quaint or humorous because it names an everyday domestic object in a mild, indirect way. Outside these established uses, it should not be treated as a general synonym for toilet; context and regional background are important. Nor should it be confused with jerrycan, a separate term for a portable fuel or water container.
An informal term for a chamber pot, especially a portable one.
"The old jerry stood beside the washstand."
Chiefly associated with British English and informal or historical domestic contexts.
A male sheep; a ram.
"A young jerry trotted across the field."
Chiefly British and Australian English; modern speakers often prefer the word ram.
A small earthenware or pottery container, especially one used for holding water.
"The servant brought a fresh jerry of water."
This is an old or regional usage and is much less common than the chamber-pot sense.
The standard plural is used for all the established noun senses.
"The chamber pots and jerries were arranged beside the beds."
In British slang, the word for the toilet can sound disarmingly polite: a jerry is simply a chamber pot.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jerry come from?
The origin of jerry is uncertain. The word is recorded for a chamber pot and for a male sheep, and its connection with pottery vessels may reflect the same early trade or workshop associations that produced other British uses of jerry. It is unrelated in ordinary usage to the given name Jerry, although the shared spelling has encouraged false associations in some modern examples.
Related word forms
How jerry is actually used
The chamber-pot sense is informal and strongly associated with British English, though it is also understood in the United States. The male-sheep sense is chiefly British and Australian. In compounds such as jerrycan and jerry-built, jerry has a separate historical development and should not be confused with the chamber-pot sense.
Easily confused with jerry
A jerry is a small chamber pot, whereas a jerrycan is a portable fuel or water container.
Jere is an old term for a vessel used for holding water, while jerry is the informal name for a chamber pot.