Meaning
What does Jabroni mean?
Jabroni is an expression, coming from wrestling slang, used for “jobber” or people, who are participating in a fight, but are predestined to lose to make the other, already well-established wrestler gain even more recognition.
In popular use jabroni is used pejoratively for people that are all about talking. These people are often seen as selfish as well as inattentive towards others. Jabroni is almost synonymic to dumbass, jerk or loser.
Origin
What's the origin of Jabroni?
The term originates from the Italian word for ham, “giambone”, literally meaning ham. In the early 20th century it was used for foolish people, in a slightly different form; “jaboney”.
Jabroni itself has developed from this very word, embraced widely in wrestling culture, by stars like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan.
Spread & Usage
How did Jabroni spread?
The term had been in the English language since the influx of Italian immigrants in America, but it was the wrestling scene and its rising popularity that had truly spread the expression around.
Several Urban Dictionary articles have been written about the phrase, dating back to 2004. The term may be seen all over the internet, for the sharp eyed.
It also got its own definition in the book of Geoffrey Nunberg’s “The Ascent of the A-Word”.