Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Jack"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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}.]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

jack
n 1: immense East Indian fruit resembling breadfruit of; its
seeds are commonly roasted [syn: {jackfruit}, {jak}]
2: an electrical device consisting of a connector socket
designed for the insertion of a plug
3: game equipment consisting of one of several small objects
picked up while bouncing a ball in the game of jacks
4: small flag indicating a ship's nationality
5: one of four face cards in a deck bearing a picture of a
young prince [syn: {knave}]
6: tool for exerting pressure or lifting
7: any of several fast-swimming predacious fishes of tropical
to warm-temperate seas
8: male donkey [syn: {jackass}]
v 1: lift with a jack, as of a car [syn: {jack up}]
2: hunt with a jacklight [syn: {jacklight}]


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