John Henry

Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia

0.01 sec.

John Henry, legendary African American famous for his strength, celebrated in ballads and tales. In the most popular version of the story, John Henry tries to outwork a steam drill with only his hammer and steel bit. Although he succeeds in beating the machine, he dies of the strain. His legend originated c.1870 among the miners drilling the Big Bend Tunnel of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway in West Virginia and may have some historical basis.

Bibliography

See study by S. R. Nelson (2006).

Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.

?Page tools

Printer friendly
Cite / link

Feedback

Mentioned in	?		References in classic literature	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found			You think it proves the truth of Roman Catholicism that John Henry Newman wrote good English and that Cardinal Manning has a picturesque appearance? Of Human Bondage by Maugham, W. Somerset View in context			John Frederick I John Frederick William Herschel John Fullarton John Galsworthy John Gay John George John Gilmore John Glenn John Gollan John Goodricke John Gorrie Museum State Park John Grahame Douglas Clark John Gray John Greer Dill John Grierson John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge at Pettaquamscutt Cove John Hadley John Hampden John Hancock John Hanning Speke John Harold Clapham John Hawkins John Hay National Wildlife Refuge John Heartfield John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum John Henry John Henry Newman John Henry OHara John Heywood John Howard Lawson John Howard Northrop John Hubert Marshall John Hughes John Hunt John Hutchinson John Hyrcanus John I John II John II Comnenus John II the Good John III John III Ducas Vatatzes John III Sobieski John Italus John IV John Jackson John James Audubon State Park John James Rickard Macleod John Jay College of Criminal Justice John Jay Homestead State Historic Site John Jervis			John Hanson Middle School John Hardy Group Inc. John Harley Weston John Harold Clapham John Hart Hunter Educational Foundation John Harvard John Hasbrouck Van Vleck John Haviland John Hawkins John Hawkins John Hawkyns John Hay John Hay Management Corporation John Hay National Wildlife Refuge John Hay Whitney/Technicolor John Hay Whitney/Technicolor John Healey Photography John Heartfield John Heine Entrepreneurial Challenge John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum John Heming John Heminges John Hemminge John Henning Speke John Henning Speke John Henninger Reagan John Henry John Henry Bonham John Henry Brodribb John Henry Cardinal Newman John Henry Cardinal Newman John Henry Company John Henry Draize John Henry Draize John Henry Foster Co. John Henry Fuseli John Henry Holliday John Henry Newman John Henry Newman John Henry Newman-Institut John Henry O'Hara John Henry OHara John Henry Owen Willcox John Henry West John Henry Wigmore John Henry Wigmore John Herndon Mercer John Herron School of Art John Herschel John Herschel John Herschel Glenn John Herschel Glenn John Herschel Glenn Jr. John Herschel Glenn Jr. John Herschel Glenn, Jr. John Herschel Glenn, Jr. John Herschell Glenn, Jr.

Encyclopedia

Free Tools:	For surfers: Free toolbar & extensions \| Word of the Day \| Help For webmasters: Free content \| Linking \| Lookup box \| Double-click lookup

Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.