Origin of term "jonesing"

[Prester John]

Well?

Who coined it, and in reference to what?

Hey, I'm happy I found out where "tank" came from!

[The Wizard of BC]

This question has been plagueing me for a long time too. I asked it over a year ago on the UK board where it seems to have originated but no one seems to knowfor sure. It seems to come from modern slang.
WHO HAS THE DIFINITIVE ANSWER????????

[Shay]

Well, if you keep up with the Joneses, and they get something you've not, then you've got a Jones to take their spot. When you've got a jones for an object of lust, then jonesing you are if have it you must.

[minimalistix]

Well, if you keep up with the Joneses, and they get something you've not, then you've got a Jones to take their spot. When you've got a jones for an object of lust, then jonesing you are if have it you must.

There are a couple different roots.

Its slang for a herion (i.e Jones), to 'jones' is to want a fix.
The term also had is roots in "keeping up with the Joneses" which supposedly was a NY cartoon title back in the early 1900s.

[Prester John]

Man, then I'm REALLY behind!

[Iolaus]

I first heard the term 25 years ago in the drug culture context, and not just for heroin. "Jonesing" was an almost irrational wanting of something, just like it is today. It's just spread from one sub-culture to a more general usage now, and I think the intesity of meaning has been somewhat diluted.

[Livingston]

I first heard the term 25 years ago in the drug culture context, and not just for heroin. "Jonesing" was an almost irrational wanting of something, just like it is today. It's just spread from one sub-culture to a more general usage now, and I think the intesity of meaning has been somewhat diluted.

I would agree. I heard it over 35 years ago in the drug culture so it's been around a while. But, what is irrational about wanting another Kilt or accessories?

[millar]

Well, if you keep up with the Joneses, and they get something you've not, then you've got a Jones to take their spot. When you've got a jones for an object of lust, then jonesing you are if have it you must.

Brilliant explanation.

I wonder if the term is a Philly thing? It is a phrase I remember hearing when I was a kid.

[Shay]

Brilliant explanation.

I wonder if the term is a Philly thing? It is a phrase I remember hearing when I was a kid.

Nope, I've heard it from English folks, no less.

[haukehaien]

The Word Detective has a good explanation for it here . It's apparently quite a recent word. Or perhaps, given the number of Joneses in Wales, a recent usage for the word.