jitterbug

n. a gang member; a juvenile delinquent. Also jit. Subjects: English, United States, Crime & Prisons, Slang

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Citations: [1941 Bosley Growther New York Times (Jan. 25) “‘High Sierra’ at the Strand, Considers the Tragic Plight of the Last Gangster” p. 11: The big holdup job gets messed up by a couple of “jitterbugs” who are assisting on it, the girl turns out a great disappointment, the gunman is rendered a fugitive with a moll and a dog who love him.] [1963 Russell Baker New York Times (Dec. 29) “Observer” p. 106: Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogar and James Cagney in the movies, “Gangbusters” on radio, bubblegum “war cards” depicting atrocities, and “zoot suit” riots among the jitterbug set were widely deplored as symptoms of national sickness.] 1993 Renee Graham Boston Globe (Dec. 12) “On the Edge’ of oblivion: the forecast for the nation’s poor black children” p. B36: “Bojack” started robbing parking meters as a 10-year-old; by age 16, he was “a bona-fide ‘jitterbug’—the first lieutenant and known warlord of a very large gang.” 1999 Simon Reynolds Generation Ecstasy (July) p. 107: The clubs started putting the phrase “no jits” on the flyers—"jit” being short for “jitterbug,” Detroit slang for gangsta. 2000 [Gregor] Usenet: triangle.general (May 4) “Re: unspoken media truths…”: I’m sure every woman brutalized by some jitterbug incited by gangsta rap is happy to learn that the issue there is fantasy. 2001 Marian Elaine And I Cry (Aug.) p. 70: I see you one of those hard ass jitterbugs, huh? 2002 Paula L. Woods Stormy Weather (July 30) p. 118: A third group nearby argued that the NAACP’s more recent threats of boycott probably wouldn’t increase the number of minority production executives or result in even one black person who could greenlight a film. “Man, it’s gonna be the same thugs, slugs, and jitterbugs as usual.” 2004 Susan Spencer-Wendel Palm Beach Post (Florida) (May 30) “Judge Lupo’s legacy more than just one high-profile trial”: “Idiot! You’re an idiot!” she started in, grilling him about why he started crack at age 47, about flushing his life down the toilet, about how now, at his age, he would join the idle, young black males in jail. “Jitterbugs,” Lupo called them, using street lingo. 2006 Wanda J. DeMarzo Miami Herald (Florida) (Feb. 5) “Reaching out to homeless remains a challenge”: Scott Russell, who has worked with the Fort Lauderdale homeless outreach team for six years, said that significant, sustained attacks on the homeless are rare, although it’s not uncommon for teenagers—referred to as “jits” on the street—to pelt them with rocks or other objects.

Posted 1 Jun 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

Thank you! I grew up in Detroit, and we used “Jit” this way all the time.

No one elsewhere knew what I was talking about.

Thanks again - for the “proof!”

by Tama 09 May 08, 0828 GMT