jack ketch

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Origin: Perh. fr. Jack, the proper name + Prov. E. ketch a hangman, fr. ketch, for catch to seize; but see the citations below.

A public executioner, or hangman. British

The manor of Tyburn was formerly held by Richard Jaquett, where felons for a long time were executed; from whence we have Jack Ketch.— Lloyd's MS., British Museum.

[Monmouth] then accosted John Ketch, the executioner, a wretch who had butchered many brave and noble victims, and whose name has, during a century and a half, been vulgarly given to all who have succeeded him in his odious office.— Thomas Babington Macaulay

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54