Proper noun

1. A diminutive of Jonathan, or a re-spelling of John.

Quotations

• 1920 John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga: In Chancery: Awakening:

  In that summer of 1909 the simple souls who even then desired to simplify the English tongue, had, of course, no cognizance of little Jon, or they would have claimed him for a disciple. But one can be too simple in this life, for his real name was Jolyon, and his living father and dead half-brother had usurped of old the other shortenings, Jo and Jolly. As a fact little Jon had done his best to conform to convention and spell himself first Jhon, then John, not till his father had explained the sheer necessity, had he spelled his name Jon.

• 1994 RobertsonDavies, The Cunning Man, Viking 1995, ISBN 0670859117, page 16:

  "I suppose I ought to call you Uncle Jack now."

  "Please don't. My name is Jonathan, and I've never had a nickname. Doesn't go with my character. So, Uncle Jon - if you must."