Adjacent Words

Jack definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

JACK, n.
1. A nickname or diminutive of John, used as a general term of contempt for any saucy of paltry fellow.
2. The name of an instrument that supplies the place of a boy; an instrument to pull off boots.
3. An engine to turn a spit; as a kitchen jack; a smoke jack.
4. A young pike.
5. A coat of mail.
6. A pitcher of waxed leather.
7. A small bowl thrown out for a mark to the bowlers.
8. Part of a musical instrument called a virginal.
9. The male of certain animals, as of the ass.
10. A horse or wooden frame on which wood or timer is sawed.
11. In sea-language, a flag, ensign or colors, displayed from a staff on the end of a bow-sprit.
12. In Yorkshire, half a pint. A quarter of a pint.
Jack of all trades, a person who can turn his hand to any king of business.
Jack by the hedge, a plant of the genus Erysimum, that grown under hedges.
Jack in a box, a plant of the genus Hernandia.
1. A large wooden male screw, turning in a female one.
Jack with a lantern, an ignis fatuus, a meteor that appears in low moist lands.
Jack of the clock-house, a little man that strikes the quarters in a clock.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a small worthless amount; "you don't know jack" [syn: jack, doodly-squat, diddly-squat, diddlysquat, diddly-shit, diddlyshit, diddly, diddley, squat, shit]
2: a man who serves as a sailor [syn: mariner, seaman, tar, Jack-tar, Jack, old salt, seafarer, gob, sea dog]
3: someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor [syn: laborer, manual laborer, labourer, jack]
4: immense East Indian fruit resembling breadfruit; it contains an edible pulp and nutritious seeds that are commonly roasted [syn: jackfruit, jak, jack]
5: a small ball at which players aim in lawn bowling
6: an electrical device consisting of a connector socket designed for the insertion of a plug
7: game equipment consisting of one of several small six-pointed metal pieces that are picked up while bouncing a ball in the game of jacks [syn: jack, jackstones]
8: small flag indicating a ship's nationality
9: one of four face cards in a deck bearing a picture of a young prince [syn: jack, knave]
10: tool for exerting pressure or lifting
11: any of several fast-swimming predacious fishes of tropical to warm temperate seas
12: male donkey [syn: jack, jackass] v
1: lift with a special device; "jack up the car so you can change the tire" [syn: jack, jack up]
2: hunt with a jacklight [syn: jacklight, jack]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English Jacke, familiar term of address to a social inferior, nickname for Johan John Date: 1548 1. a. man — usually used as an intensive in such phrases as every man jack b. often capitalized sailor c. (1) servant, laborer (2) lumberjack 2. any of various usually mechanical devices: as a. a device for turning a spit b. a usually portable mechanism or device for exerting pressure or lifting a heavy body a short distance 3. something that supports or holds in position: as a. an iron bar at a topgallant masthead to support a royal mast and spread the royal shrouds b. a wooden brace fastened behind a scenic unit in a stage set to prop it up 4. a. any of several fishes; especially any of various carangids b. a male donkey c. jackrabbit d. any of several birds (as a jackdaw) 5. a. a small white target ball in lawn bowling b. a small national flag flown by a ship c. (1) plural but singular in construction a game played with a set of small objects that are tossed, caught, and moved in various figures (2) a small 6-pointed metal object used in the game of jacks 6. a. a playing card carrying the figure of a soldier or servant and ranking usually below the queen b. jackpot 1a(2) 7. slang money 8. a female fitting in an electric circuit used with a plug to make a connection with another circuit 9. a. applejack b. brandy 10. jackknife 2 11. Monterey Jack II. verb Date: circa 1841 intransitive verb to hunt or fish at night with a jacklight transitive verb 1. to hunt or fish for at night with a jacklight 2. a. to move or lift by or as if by a jack b. to raise the level of — usually used with up <jack up the price> c. to take to task • jacker noun

Britannica Concise

In practical mechanics, portable hand-operated device for raising heavy weights through short distances, exerting great pressures, or holding assembled work firmly in position. The ratio of the load to the amount of force applied to the handle can be made quite high by using a gear or screw to regulate the upward extension. A ratchet allows a heavy weight to be raised in short successive stages. Though limited by the requirements of portability and ease of manual operation, jacks may lift, or exert a force of, several tons. A familiar example is the automobile jack, used to raise one end of a car to change a tire. Any of more than 150 species of fishes (family Carangidae, order Perciformes) found in temperate and tropical portions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans and occasionally in fresh or brackish water. Though body size and shape vary greatly, many species have small scales that create a smooth appearance, a laterally compressed body, rows of large spiky scales along the side near the tail fin, and a deeply forked tail. Many have a bluish green, silvery, or yellowish sheen. Jacks are important commercially and are favored sport fishes. See also amberjack. In practical mechanics, portable hand-operated device for raising heavy weights through short distances, exerting great pressures, or holding assembled work firmly in position. The ratio of the load to the amount of force applied to the handle can be made quite high by using a gear or screw to regulate the upward extension. A ratchet allows a heavy weight to be raised in short successive stages. Though limited by the requirements of portability and ease of manual operation, jacks may lift, or exert a force of, several tons. A familiar example is the automobile jack, used to raise one end of a car to change a tire. Any of more than 150 species of fishes (family Carangidae, order Perciformes) found in temperate and tropical portions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans and occasionally in fresh or brackish water. Though body size and shape vary greatly, many species have small scales that create a smooth appearance, a laterally compressed body, rows of large spiky scales along the side near the tail fin, and a deeply forked tail. Many have a bluish green, silvery, or yellowish sheen. Jacks are important commercially and are favored sport fishes. See also amberjack.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 a device for lifting heavy objects, esp. the axle of a vehicle off the ground while changing a wheel etc. 2 a court-card with a picture of a man, esp. a soldier, page, or knave, etc. 3 a ship's flag, esp. one flown from the bow and showing nationality. 4 a device using a single plug to connect an electrical circuit. 5 a small white ball in bowls, at which the players aim. 6 a = JACKSTONE. b (in pl.) a game of jackstones. 7 (Jack) the familiar form of John esp. typifying the common man or the male of a species (I'm all right, Jack). 8 the figure of a man striking the bell on a clock. 9 sl. a detective; a policeman. 10 US sl. money. 11 = LUMBERJACK. 12 = STEEPLEJACK. 13 a device for turning a spit. 14 any of various marine perchlike fish of the family Carangidae, including the amberjack. 15 a device for plucking the string of a harpsichord etc., one being operated by each key. --v.tr. (usu. foll. by up) 1 raise with or as with a jack (in sense 1). 2 colloq. raise e.g. prices. Phrases and idioms: every man jack each and every person. Jack Frost frost personified. jack in (or up) sl. abandon (an attempt etc.). jack-in-the-box a toy figure that springs out of a box when it is opened. jack-in-office a self-important minor official. jack of all trades a person who can do many different kinds of work. jack-o'-lantern 1 a will-o'-the wisp. 2 a lantern made esp. from a pumpkin with holes for facial features. jack plane a medium-sized plane for use in rough joinery. jack plug a plug for use with a jack (see sense 4 of n.). Jack tar a sailor. on one's jack (or Jack Jones) sl. alone; on one's own. Etymology: ME Iakke, a pet-name for John, erron. assoc. with F Jacques James 2. n. 1 = BLACKJACK(3). 2 hist. a sleeveless padded tunic worn by foot-soldiers. Etymology: ME f. OF jaque, of uncert. orig.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Jack Jack (j[a^]k), n. [Pg. jaca, Malayalam, tsjaka.] (Bot.) A large tree, the Artocarpus integrifolia, common in the East Indies, closely allied to the breadfruit, from which it differs in having its leaves entire. The fruit is of great size, weighing from thirty to forty pounds, and through its soft fibrous matter are scattered the seeds, which are roasted and eaten. The wood is of a yellow color, fine grain, and rather heavy, and is much used in cabinetwork. It is also used for dyeing a brilliant yellow. [Written also jak.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Jack Jack, n. [F. Jacques James, L. Jacobus, Gr. ?, Heb. Ya 'aq[=o]b Jacob; prop., seizing by the heel; hence, a supplanter. Cf. Jacobite, Jockey.] 1. A familiar nickname of, or substitute for, John. You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby. --Shak. 2. An impertinent or silly fellow; a simpleton; a boor; a clown; also, a servant; a rustic. ``Jack fool.'' --Chaucer. Since every Jack became a gentleman, There 's many a gentle person made a Jack. --Shak. 3. A popular colloquial name for a sailor; -- called also Jack tar, and Jack afloat. 4. A mechanical contrivance, an auxiliary machine, or a subordinate part of a machine, rendering convenient service, and often supplying the place of a boy or attendant who was commonly called Jack; as: (a) A device to pull off boots. (b) A sawhorse or sawbuck. (c) A machine or contrivance for turning a spit; a smoke jack, or kitchen jack. (b) (Mining) A wooden wedge for separating rocks rent by blasting. (e) (Knitting Machine) A lever for depressing the sinkers which push the loops down on the needles. (f) (Warping Machine) A grating to separate and guide the threads; a heck box. (g) (Spinning) A machine for twisting the sliver as it leaves the carding machine. (h) A compact, portable machine for planing metal. (i) A machine for slicking or pebbling leather. (k) A system of gearing driven by a horse power, for multiplying speed. (l) A hood or other device placed over a chimney or vent pipe, to prevent a back draught. (m) In the harpsichord, an intermediate piece communicating the action of the key to the quill; -- called also hopper. (n) In hunting, the pan or frame holding the fuel of the torch used to attract game at night; also, the light itself. --C. Hallock. 5. A portable machine variously constructed, for exerting great pressure, or lifting or moving a heavy body through a small distance. It consists of a lever, screw, rack and pinion, hydraulic press, or any simple combination of mechanical powers, working in a compact pedestal or support and operated by a lever, crank, capstan bar, etc. The name is often given to a jackscrew, which is a kind of jack. 6. The small bowl used as a mark in the game of bowls. --Shak. Like an uninstructed bowler who thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straight forward upon it. --Sir W. Scott. 7. The male of certain animals, as of the ass. 8. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A young pike; a pickerel. (b) The jurel. (c) A large, California rock fish (Sebastodes paucispinus); -- called also boccaccio, and m['e]rou. (d) The wall-eyed pike. 9. A drinking measure holding half a pint; also, one holding a quarter of a pint. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell. 10. (Naut.) (a) A flag, containing only the union, without the fly, usually hoisted on a jack staff at the bowsprit cap; -- called also union jack. The American jack is a small blue flag, with a star for each State. (b) A bar of iron athwart ships at a topgallant masthead, to support a royal mast, and give spread to the royal shrouds; -- called also jack crosstree. --R. H. Dana, Jr.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Jack Jack, v. t. To move or lift, as a house, by means of a jack or jacks. See 2d Jack, n., 5.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Jack Jack, n. [F. jaque, jacque, perh. from the proper name Jacques. Cf. Jacquerie.] A coarse and cheap medi[ae]val coat of defense, esp. one made of leather. Their horsemen are with jacks for most part clad. --Sir J. Harrington.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Jack Jack, n. [Named from its resemblance to a jack boot.] A pitcher or can of waxed leather; -- called also black jack. [Obs.] --Dryden.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Jack Jack, v. i. To hunt game at night by means of a jack. See 2d Jack, n., 4, n.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Jurel Ju"rel, n. (Zo["o]l.) A yellow carangoid fish of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts (Caranx chrysos), most abundant southward, where it is valued as a food fish; -- called also hardtail, horse crevall['e], jack, buffalo jack, skipjack, yellow mackerel, and sometimes, improperly, horse mackerel. Other species of Caranx (as C. fallax) are also sometimes called jurel.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(jacks) 1. A jack is a device for lifting a heavy object off the ground, for example a car. N-COUNT 2. A jack is a playing card whose value is between a ten and a queen. A jack is usually represented by a picture of a young man. N-COUNT: oft N of n 3. see also jack-of-all-trades, Union Jack

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A farthing, a small bowl serving as the mark for bowlers. An instrument for pulling off boots.

Foolish Dictionary

An instrument requiring a strong arm, and used for raising heavy weights, or for pulling off the boots.

Moby Thesaurus

AB, Ancient Mariner, Argonaut, Dannebrog, Dylan, Flying Dutchman, Jolly Roger, Neptune, OD, Old Glory, Poseidon, Rocky Mountain canary, Star-Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes, Union Flag, Union Jack, Varuna, able seaman, able-bodied seaman, ace, and blue, ass, baluster, balustrade, banderole, banister, banner, banneret, base, best bower, black flag, blue ensign, bluejacket, blunt, boodle, bower, brass, bread, buccaneer, bucks, bunting, burgee, burro, cabbage, cards, caryatid, cash, chips, clubs, coachwhip, coin, colonnade, color, colors, column, crab, crane, cuddy, dado, deck, deep-sea man, derrick, deuce, diamonds, dickey, die, dinero, donkey, dough, dummy, ensign, erector, face cards, fair-weather sailor, fisherman, flag, flush, footstalk, forklift, full house, gantry crane, gelt, gilt, gonfalon, gonfanon, grease, green, green stuff, greenbacks, guidon, hand, hearts, hearty, hoist, house flag, hydraulic tailgate, jack afloat, jack-tar, jackass, jackscrew, jacky, jennet, jenny, jenny ass, joker, kale, king, knave, left bower, lever, lift, lifter, limey, lobsterman, long pennant, mariner, matelot, mazuma, merchant flag, money, moolah, mopus, national flag, navigator, neddy, newel-post, oil of palms, ointment, oof, ooftish, oriflamme, pack, pair, pedestal, pedicel, peduncle, pendant, pennant, pennon, pennoncel, picture cards, pier, pilaster, pile, piling, pillar, pirate, playing cards, plinth, pole, post, privateer, queen, queen-post, red, red ensign, rhino, rocks, round, royal flush, royal standard, rubber, ruff, sailor, salt, scratch, sea dog, sea rover, seafarer, seafaring man, seaman, shaft, shekels, shipman, signal flag, simoleons, singleton, socle, spades, spondulics, staff, stalk, stanchion, stand, standard, stem, straight, streamer, subbase, sugar, surbase, swallowtail, tackle, tar, tarpaulin, the needful, tin, trey, trick, tricolor, trump, trunk, upright, vexillum, viking, wampum, water dog, whaler, white, windjammer, windlass, windsailor