Definition

Proper noun 1. A legendary American railroad engineer: Casey Jones refers to John Luther "Casey" Jones, a United States railroad engineer who became a folk hero after his death in a train wreck. He is celebrated for his dedication to duty, as he died while trying to stop his train and save the lives of his passengers.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The story of Casey Jones is a classic tale of American railroad folklore.
  • Many children learn about the brave engineer Casey Jones through songs and stories.

Advanced Usage

• "Like Casey Jones": Used to describe someone showing extreme dedication or bravery in their work, especially in a transportation or crisis context.
  • The pilot stayed with the failing plane to steer it away from the neighborhood, like a modern Casey Jones.

Variants and Related Words

• Casey Jones legend: The collective stories and folklore surrounding the figure.
• Ballad of Casey Jones: Refers specifically to the famous folk song that popularized his story.

Synonyms

• Folk hero: A person celebrated in folk tales and popular culture.
• Legendary engineer: An engineer whose deeds have become part of popular legend.

Related Idioms

• "To pull a Casey Jones": (Informal, rare) To act with self-sacrificing bravery in one's professional duty, particularly in an emergency.
  • The conductor pulled a Casey Jones and managed to evacuate everyone before the collision.

Noun

1. United States railroad engineer who died trying to stop his train from crashing into another train; a friend wrote a famous ballad describing the incident (1864-1900)