jack-in-the-box Hear it!

jack-in-the-box definition

jack·-in-the-box (jak′in t̸hə bäks′)

noun pl. jack-in-the-boxes -·box′es

a toy consisting of a box from which a little figure on a spring jumps up when the lid is lifted
also jack-in-a-box jack′·-in-a-box′

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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