Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

jack       (jāk)  Pronunciation Key  n.   often Jack Informal A man; a fellow. One who does odd or heavy jobs; a laborer. One who works in a specified manual trade. Often used in combination: a lumberjack; a steeplejack. Jack A sailor; a tar. jacks (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A game played with a set of small six-pointed metal pieces and a small ball, the object being to pick up the pieces in various combinations. One of the metal pieces so used. A usually portable device for raising heavy objects by means of force applied with a lever, screw, or hydraulic press. A wooden wedge for cleaving rock. A support or brace, especially the iron crosstree on a topgallant masthead. A small flag flown at the bow of a ship, usually to indicate nationality. Abbr. J Games A playing card showing the figure of a servant or soldier and ranking below a queen. Also called knave. Games jacks (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A game played with a set of small six-pointed metal pieces and a small ball, the object being to pick up the pieces in various combinations. One of the metal pieces so used. A usually portable device for raising heavy objects by means of force applied with a lever, screw, or hydraulic press. A wooden wedge for cleaving rock. A support or brace, especially the iron crosstree on a topgallant masthead. A small flag flown at the bow of a ship, usually to indicate nationality. Sports A pin used in some games of bowling. A usually portable device for raising heavy objects by means of force applied with a lever, screw, or hydraulic press. A wooden wedge for cleaving rock. A support or brace, especially the iron crosstree on a topgallant masthead. A small flag flown at the bow of a ship, usually to indicate nationality. A device used for turning a spit. Nautical A support or brace, especially the iron crosstree on a topgallant masthead. A small flag flown at the bow of a ship, usually to indicate nationality. The male of certain animals, especially the ass. Any of several food and game fishes of the family Carangidae, found in tropical and temperate seas. A jackrabbit. A socket that accepts a plug at one end and attaches to electric circuitry at the other. Slang Money. Applejack. Slang A small or worthless amount: You don't know jack about that. v.   jacked, jack·ing, jacks v.   tr. To hunt or fish for with a jacklight: hunters illegally jacking deer. To move or hoist by or as if by using a jack: jacked the rear of the car to replace the tire. To raise (something) to a higher level, as in cost: "Foreign producers jacked up the price on some steels by over 100%" (Forbes). Baseball To hit (a pitched ball) hard, especially for a home run. v.   intr. To hunt or fish for quarry by using a jacklight. Phrasal Verb(s): jack off Vulgar Slang To masturbate. [From the name Jack, from Middle English Jakke, possibly from Old French Jacques, from Late Latin Iacōbus; see Jacob. N., sense 15, short for jack shit.] jack'er n.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Jack 

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
jack  (n.)

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
jack  (v.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

jack
noun
1.	a small worthless amount; "you don't know jack"
2.	a man who serves as a sailor [syn: mariner]
3.	someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor [syn: laborer]
4.	immense East Indian fruit resembling breadfruit; it contains an edible pulp and nutritious seeds that are commonly roasted [syn: jackfruit]
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
8.	small flag indicating a ship's nationality
9.	one of four face cards in a deck bearing a picture of a young prince
10.	tool for exerting pressure or lifting
11.	any of several fast-swimming predacious fishes of tropical to warm temperate seas
12.	male donkey
verb
1.	lift with a special device; "jack up the car so you can change the tire"
2.	hunt with a jacklight [syn: jacklight]

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

jack

In addition to the idioms beginning with jack, also see before you can say Jack Robinson.

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Jack County, TX (county, FIPS 237) Location: 33.23609 N, 98.17553 W
Population (1990): 6981 (3497 housing units)
Area: 2376.2 sq km (land), 7.1 sq km (water)

Jack, AL Zip code(s): 36346

Lone Jack, MO (village, FIPS 43760) Location: 38.87037 N, 94.16642 W
Population (1990): 392 (148 housing units)
Area: 8.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 64070

Black Jack, MO (city, FIPS 6004) Location: 38.79815 N, 90.26360 W
Population (1990): 6128 (2076 housing units)
Area: 6.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

jack

High\, n. 1. An elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven.

2. People of rank or high station; as, high and low.

3. (Card Playing) The highest card dealt or drawn.

High, low, jack, and the game, a game at cards; -- also called all fours, old sledge, and seven up.

In high and low, utterly; completely; in every respect. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

On high, aloft; above.

The dayspring from on high hath visited us. --Luke i. 78.

The Most High, the Supreme Being; God.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Jack

Hy*drau"lic\, a. [F. hydraulique, L. hydraulicus, fr. Gr. ?, ?, a water organ; "y`dwr water + ? flute, pipe. See Hydra.] Of or pertaining to hydraulics, or to fluids in motion; conveying, or acting by, water; as, an hydraulic clock, crane, or dock.

Hydraulic accumulator, an accumulator for hydraulic machinery of any kind. See Accumulator, 2.

Hydraulic brake, a cataract. See Cataract, 3.

Hydraulic cement, a cement or mortar made of hydraulic lime, which will harden under water.

Hydraulic elevator, a lift operated by the weight or pressure of water.

Hydraulic jack. See under Jack.

Hydraulic lime, quicklime obtained from hydraulic limestone, and used for cementing under water, etc.

Hydraulic limestone, a limestone which contains some clay, and which yields a quicklime that will set, or form a firm, strong mass, under water.

Hydraulic main (Gas Works), a horizontal pipe containing water at the bottom into which the ends of the pipes from the retorts dip, for passing the gas through water in order to remove ammonia.

Hydraulic mining, a system of mining in which the force of a jet of water is used to wash down a bank of gold-bearing gravel or earth. [Pacific Coast]

Hydraulic press, a hydrostatic press. See under Hydrostatic.

Hydraulic propeller, a device for propelling ships by means of a stream of water ejected under water rearward from the ship.

Hydraulic ram, a machine for raising water by means of the energy of the moving water of which a portion is to be raised. When the rush of water through the main pipe d shuts the valve at a, the momentum of the current thus suddenly checked forces part of it into the air chamber b, and up the pipe c, its return being prevented by a valve at the entrance to the air chamber, while the dropping of the valve a by its own weight allows another rush through the main pipe, and so on alternately.

Hydraulic valve. (Mach.) (a) A valve for regulating the distribution of water in the cylinders of hydraulic elevators, cranes, etc. (b) (Gas Works) An inverted cup with a partition dipping into water, for opening or closing communication between two gas mains, the open ends of which protrude about the water.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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 Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

11. The knave of a suit of playing cards.

Note: Jack is used adjectively in various senses. It sometimes designates something cut short or diminished in size; as, a jack timber; a jack rafter; a jack arch, etc.

Jack arch, an arch of the thickness of one brick.

Jack back (Brewing & Malt Vinegar Manuf.), a cistern which receives the wort. See under 1st Back.

Jack block (Naut.), a block fixed in the topgallant or royal rigging, used for raising and lowering light masts and spars.

Jack boots, boots reaching above the knee; -- worn in the 17 century by soldiers; afterwards by fishermen, etc.

Jack crosstree. (Naut.) See 10, b, above.

Jack curlew (Zo["o]l.), the whimbrel.

Jack frame. (Cotton Spinning) See 4 (g), above.

Jack Frost, frost personified as a mischievous person.

Jack hare, a male hare. --Cowper.

Jack lamp, a lamp for still hunting and camp use. See def. 4 (n.), above.

Jack plane, a joiner's plane used for coarse work.

Jack post, one of the posts which support the crank shaft of a deep-well-boring apparatus.

Jack pot (Poker Playing), the name given to the stakes, contributions to which are made by each player successively, till such a hand is turned as shall take the "pot," which is the sum total of all the bets.

Jack rabbit (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of large American hares, having very large ears and long legs. The California species (Lepus Californicus), and that of Texas and New Mexico (L. callotis), have the tail black above, and the ears black at the tip. They do not become white in winter. The more northern prairie hare (L. campestris) has the upper side of the tail white, and in winter its fur becomes nearly white.

Jack rafter (Arch.), in England, one of the shorter rafters used in constructing a hip or valley roof; in the United States, any secondary roof timber, as the common rafters resting on purlins in a trussed roof; also, one of the pieces simulating extended rafters, used under the eaves in some styles of building.

Jack salmon (Zo["o]l.), the wall-eyed pike, or glasseye.

Jack sauce, an impudent fellow. [Colloq. & Obs.]

Jack shaft (Mach.), the first intermediate shaft, in a factory or mill, which receives power, through belts or gearing, from a prime mover, and transmits it, by the same means, to other intermediate shafts or to a line shaft.

Jack sinker (Knitting Mach.), a thin iron plate operated by the jack to depress the loop of thread between two needles.

Jack snipe. (Zo["o]l.) See in the Vocabulary.

Jack staff (Naut.), a staff fixed on the bowsprit cap, upon which the jack is hoisted.

Jack timber (Arch.), any timber, as a rafter, rib, or studding, which, being intercepted, is shorter than the others.

Jack towel, a towel hung on a roller for common use.

Jack truss (Arch.), in a hip roof, a minor truss used where the roof has not its full section.

Jack tree. (Bot.) See 1st Jack, n.

Jack yard (Naut.), a short spar to extend a topsail beyond the gaff.

Blue jack, blue vitriol; sulphate of copper.

Hydraulic jack, a jack used for lifting, pulling, or forcing, consisting of a compact portable hydrostatic press, with its pump and a reservoir containing a supply of liquid, as oil.

Jack-at-a-pinch. (a) One called upon to take the place of another in an emergency. (b) An itinerant parson who conducts an occasional service for a fee.

Jack-at-all-trades, one who can turn his hand to any kind of work.

Jack-by-the-hedge (Bot.), a plant of the genus Erysimum (E. alliaria, or Alliaria officinalis), which grows under hedges. It bears a white flower and has a taste not unlike garlic. Called also, in England, sauce-alone. --Eng. Cyc.

Jack-in-a-box. (a) (Bot.) A tropical tree (Hernandia sonora), which bears a drupe that rattles when dry in the inflated calyx. (b) A child's toy, consisting of a box, out of which, when the lid is raised, a figure springs. (c) (Mech.) An epicyclic train of bevel gears for transmitting rotary motion to two parts in such a manner that their relative rotation may be variable; applied to driving the wheels of tricycles, road locomotives, and to cotton machinery, etc.; an equation box; a jack frame; -- called also compensating gearing. (d) A large wooden screw turning in a nut attached to the crosspiece of a rude press.

Jack-in-office, an insolent fellow in authority. --Wolcott.

Jack-in-the-bush (Bot.), a tropical shrub with red fruit (Cordia Cylindrostachya).

Jack-in-the-green, a chimney sweep inclosed in a framework of boughs, carried in Mayday processions.

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Bot.), the American plant Aris[ae]ma triphyllum, or Indian turnip, in which the upright spadix is inclosed.

Jack-of-the-buttery (Bot.), the stonecrop (Sedum acre).

Jack-of-the-clock, a figure, usually of a man, on old clocks, which struck the time on the bell.

Jack-on-both-sides, one who is or tries to be neutral.

Jack-out-of-office, one who has been in office and is turned out. --Shak.

Jack the Giant Killer, the hero of a well-known nursery story.

Jack-with-a-lantern, Jack-o'-lantern. (a) An ignis fatuus; a will-o'-the-wisp. "[Newspaper speculations] supplying so many more jack-o'-lanterns to the future historian." --Lowell. (b) A lantern made of a pumpkin so prepared as to show in illumination the features of a human face, etc.

Yellow Jack (Naut.), the yellow fever; also, the quarantine flag. See Yellow flag, under Flag.