Mas John

English

Alternative forms

• Mess John

Noun

Mas John (plural Mas Johns)

1. (obsolete, humorous) A Scottish Presbyterian minister, as opposed to an Anglican or Catholic clergyman. [17th–19th c.]
   • 1672, Andrew Marvell, Gregory, father-Greybeard, with his vizard off:

     In […] Scotland there were I know not how many Mas Johns restored in one day to the work of their Ministry.

   • 1790, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, Oxford, published 2009, page 13:

     I should only stipulate that these new Mess-Johns in robes and coronets should keep some sort of bounds in the democratic and levelling principles which are expected from their titled pulpits.