<snip>
I imagine that for Shakespeare, the name Joan would have provided a
rural English counterpart to Jack (JH)
<snip>
Indeed. Here is Mrs Sherwood, a 19th C writer of moral tales for children:
'You are such a dowdy, such a country Joan, no one will look upon you.'
For Shakespeare she was a common woman (Joan, that is; not Mrs Sherwood):
Well, I will love, write, sigh, pray, sue and groan:
Some men must love my lady and some Joan. [LLL I.i]
Definitely lower than an Abigail (for whom see Beaumont & Fletcher):
Well, now can I make any Joan a lady. [KJ I.i]
<snip>
I originally imagined [keel], hearing the song as a child, as scraping out
the pot (EH)
<snip>
No, that was the one who married Mr Muscle.
CW
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'What's the point of having a language that everybody knows?'
(Gypsy inhabitant of Barbaraville)
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