noun General Slang

Jeep

/dʒiːp/ · noun · informal

The rugged little military runabout of WWII — and originally GI slang for any new, untested gadget or recruit.

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Definitions

1

The small, tough, all-purpose four-wheel-drive vehicle that became the workhorse of WWII Allied forces.

“Four of us piled into the jeep and bounced down the rutted road.”
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2

Early army slang for a new, unproven recruit, vehicle, or piece of equipment.

“The sergeant called the green private a jeep until he proved himself.”
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3

Loosely, any small, versatile utility vehicle in civilian life after the war.

“They took the old jeep out to the hunting camp.”
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Jeep In A Sentence

The jeep could climb just about anything you pointed it at.
He learned to fix a jeep engine blindfolded by the end of basic.
We loaded the jeep with supplies and headed for the ridge.

Origin & Usage

American military slang of the early 1940s. The name's origin is debated — often traced to the slurred pronunciation of 'GP' (general purpose) and to Eugene the Jeep, a creature from the Popeye comics. It came to define the iconic WWII vehicle.

Variants GP
Tags #1940s#wartime#swing#vintage#military#vehicles

People Also Ask

Where did the word jeep come from?

It's 1940s military slang, often traced to the slurred initials 'GP' for general purpose and to a Popeye comic character named Eugene the Jeep.

Did jeep mean other things during the war?

Yes — early on, GIs used 'jeep' loosely for any new, untested recruit, vehicle, or gadget before it settled on the vehicle.

Why was the jeep so important in WWII?

Its rugged four-wheel drive made it the Allies' do-everything utility vehicle, hauling troops, supplies, and gear over rough terrain.

Is jeep still slang?

It became a household word and brand name; the broader 'new recruit' slang sense faded after the war.

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