jack
jack definition
jack (jak)
- John
- Obsolete a common fellow or boy assistant
- a man or boy; fellow: sometimes used as a slang form of address
- Now Rare a sailor; jack-tar
- ☆ a lumberjack
- a jack-of-all-trades
- a fruit-flavored alcoholic liquor, as applejack
- any of various machines used to lift, hoist, or move something heavy a short distance hydraulic jack, automobile jack
- a wooden bar attached to each key of a harpsichord, etc. that raises the plectrum when the key is depressed
- a male donkey; jackass
- ☆ jack rabbit
- any of various birds, as a jackdaw
- any of a tropical, marine family (Carangidae) of predatory, silvery, percoid, game and food fishes with widely forked tails, including the pompanos and yellowtails
- jackfish
- ☆ Slang money
- Elec. a plug-in receptacle used to make electrical contact
- Games
- a playing card with a conventionalized picture of a royal male servant or soldier on it; knave
- a small ball used as the center mark in lawn bowling
- any of the small stones or six-pronged metal pieces used in playing jacks
- ☆ Hunting a torch or light used to attract fish or game at night
- Naut. a small flag usually flown on a ship's bow to show nationality, often, specif., union jack
Etymology: ME Jacke, Jake < OFr Jaque, Jaques < LL(Ec) Jacobus, Jacob
transitive verb
- to raise by means of a jack
- ☆ to hunt or fish for with a light
adjective
male: of some animals
jack Idioms
every man jack
every man; everyone
jack around
☆ Slang- to spend time in useless activity
- to trifle or meddle (with)
- to harass, treat with contempt, etc.
jack off
Slang to masturbate: used chiefly of males
jack up
- to raise by means of a jack
- ☆ Informal to raise (prices, salaries, etc.)
- ☆ Informal
- to reproach for misbehavior or neglect
- to encourage to perform one's duty
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Related Discussions (3)
| Topic | Replies | Latest Post |
|---|---|---|
| JACK | 4 | 9 months ago |
| A jack of all languages, a master of none. | 30 | 5 years ago |
| Jack jumper | 4 | 5 years ago |
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