# Why are firemen called "jakes"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-firemen-called-jakes/378140>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 27, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-firemen-called-jakes/378140 "2006-10-27T16:40:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-firemen-called-jakes/378140/1 "2006-10-27T16:40:05Z")

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Just wondering…what is the origin of this term-is it short for “jacob’s Ladder” (from the Bible? 😕

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-firemen-called-jakes/378140/2 "2006-10-27T16:48:48Z")

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Dunno about firemen, but [urbandictionary.com](http://urbandictionary.com) says:

> [@](#):
>
> cops, narcs, fbi or anyone that can arrest.
> 
> Can be used in both singular and plural forms in order to describe the police
> 
> Police, cops, 5.0, fuzz. Often used by MC’s.
> 
> urban slang for a federal agent
> 
> street slang for pigs , feds,or any other kind of ilumminati driven snakes.  
> Derived from the bull shit T.V show about Dumb pigs entitled: “JAKE and The Fat Man”

That last guess is probably urban mythology.

Where did you see it applied to firemen?

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-firemen-called-jakes/378140/3 "2006-10-27T16:55:28Z")

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The always definitive Urban Dictionary [sez:](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Jake&defid=2002603&page=2)

> [@](#):
>
> While it is now a widely accepted term in the fire service, it is almost exclusively used in New England…  
> The term “Jake” is most probably derived from the term “J-Key”. The first street-corner fire alarm box system was invented and constructed in the city of Boston, and was based on a telegraph system, novel in its day. Inside each box…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-firemen-called-jakes/378140/4 "2006-10-28T04:38:13Z")

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Darn you, hidden UrbanDictionary page 2 link!