Jake

Definition

(Noun) (jakes) A term for a firefighter, used mostly in the Northeast U.S.A., especially in the Boston area. The term is normally used by firefighters, or fire buffs, speaking of another firefighter, or other firefighters. To be a "good jake" is a very high form of praise from fellow firefighters. The origin is not officially known, but it probably came from the years before radios were invented, and installed in fire apparatus. In those days, firefighters would communicate with the central fire alarm communications center by Morse Code, using a tapper inside a fire alarm box key know as a J-key. If a firefighter was good at sending Morse Code, he was known as a, "good J-key" It became "Jakey" and then, simply, "Jake".