Daily AncestorJockey
A jockey rode racehorses for pay; in older English the word could also mean a horse dealer, and from that a cheat or sharp trader.
Jockeys had to be light, typically about 100 to 120 pounds, and the job carried a high risk of injury. They were usually paid a small fee by the trainer plus a share of the horse's winnings.
The word started in England. Dictionaries also record dated senses of horse dealer and of cheat or sharp trader, and the verb to jockey still means to maneuver for advantage.
As seen in a recordOccupation column of the 1870 to 1940 census
Ed. Tully, 18, Jockey
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Jockey." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/jockey. Last checked 2026-10-10.