jack

jack [jak]

n.

pl. for jack 7, 8, 9, 10JACKS or JACK jacks [ME Jacke, Jake < OFr Jaque, Jaques < LL(Ec) Jacobus,JACOB]

1. [J-] nickname for JOHN¹

2. [often J-]

a) Obs. a common fellow or boy assistant

b) a man or boy; fellow: sometimes used as a slang form of address

c) Now Rare a sailor; jack-tar

☆ d) a lumberjack

e) a jack-of-all-trades

3.

a) BOOTJACK

b) MONTEREY JACK

c) SMOKEJACK

4. a fruit-flavored alcoholic liquor, as applejack

5. any of various machines used to lift, hoist, or move something heavy a short distance [hydraulic jack, automobile jack]

6. a wooden bar attached to each key of a harpsichord, etc. that raises the plectrum when the key is depressed

7. a male donkey; jackass

☆ 8. short for JACK RABBIT

9. any of various birds, as a jackdaw

10.

a) any of a tropical, marine family (Carangidae) of predatory, silvery, percoid, game and food fishes with widely forked tails, including the pompanos and yellowtails

b) JACKFISH

☆ 11. [Old Slang] money

12. Elec. a plug-in receptacle used to make electrical contact

13. Games

a) a playing card with a conventionalized picture of a royal male servant or soldier on it; knave

b) a small ball used as the center mark in lawn bowling

c) any of the small stones or six-pronged metal pieces used in playing JACKS

☆ 14. Hunting a torch or light used to attract fish or game at night

15. Naut. a small flag usually flown on a ship's bow to show nationality, often, specif., UNION JACK

vt.

1. to raise by means of a jack

☆ 2. to hunt or fish for with a light

adj.

male: of some animals

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every man jack

every man; everyone

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☆ jack around Slang

1. to spend time in useless activity

2. to trifle or meddle (with)

3. to harass, treat with contempt, etc.

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jack off

Slang to masturbate: used chiefly of males

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jack up

1. to raise by means of a jack

☆ 2. Informal to raise (prices, salaries, etc.)

☆ 3. Informal

a) to reproach for misbehavior or neglect

b) to encourage to perform one's duty