E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Sanguinary James (A).
A sheep’s head not singed. A jemmy is a sheep’s head; so called from James I., who introduced into England the national Scotch dish of “singed sheep’s head and trotters,” No real Scotch dinner is complete without a haggis, a sheep’s head and trotters, and a hotch-potch (in summer), or cocky leekie (in winter).
1
A cocky leekie is a fowl boiled or stewed with leeks or kale—i.e. salt beef and curly greens.
2
Gimmer (a sheep) cannot be the origin of Jemmy, as the G is always soft.
