*jac*

n. That which is adjacent. [ R. ] Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. adjacens, -centis, p. pr. of adjacere to lie near; ad + jacēre to lie: cf. F. adjacent. ] Lying near, close, or contiguous; neighboring; bordering on; as, a field adjacent to the highway. “The adjacent forest.” B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Adjacent or
contiguous angle. (Geom.) See Angle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Adjoining; contiguous; near. -- Adjacent, Adjoining, Contiguous. Things are adjacent when they lie close each other, not necessary in actual contact; as, adjacent fields, adjacent villages, etc. I find that all Europe with her adjacent isles is peopled with Christians. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ] Things are adjoining when they meet at some line or point of junction; as, adjoining farms, an adjoining highway. What is spoken of as contiguous should touch with some extent of one side or the whole of it; as, a row of contiguous buildings; a wood contiguous to a plain. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to be adjacent. [ 1913 Webster ]

A jacket having air-tight cells, or cavities which can be filled with air, to render persons buoyant in swimming. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Apple brandy; a brandy distilled from cider. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Min.) A name given by English miners to sphalerite, or zinc blende; -- called also false galena. See Blende. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Caramel or burnt sugar, used to color wines, spirits, ground coffee, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A large leather vessel for beer, etc. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) The Quercus nigra, or barren oak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The ensign of a pirate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a serviceman in the navy.
Syn. -- navy man, sailor, sailor boy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ From its resemblance to the style of jacket work by the crews of World War II bomber airplanes. ] a short men's jacket made of leather, having a zipper in front, knitted cuffs, and ribbed trim. [ PJC ]

n. A device for pulling off boots. [ 1913 Webster ]

A game at cards, a modification of seven-up, or all fours. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

[ From the Earl of Cardigan, who was famous in the Crimean campaign of 1854-55. ] 1. A warm jacket of knit worsted with or without sleeves, especially a knitted jacket with sleeves that is fastened up the front with buttons or a zipper. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ car + hijack. ] to take (a car) by an act of carjacking; as, the three teens carjacked two automobiles in one night. [ PJC ]

n. [ car + hijacking. ] the forcible taking of a car while the driver is in it; the robber may force the driver out, force the driver to drive while under threat of harm, or be forced to relinquish the controls while also being forced to remain in the car. In the latter two cases, the act also constitutes a kidnapping. [ PJC ]

{ } n. A seller of low-priced, shoddy, or second goods; a hawker.
Syn. -- huckster, hawker, tout. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Condition of being circumjacent, or of bordering on every side. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. circumjacens, p. pr. of circumjacere; circum + jacēre to lie. ] Lying round; bordering on every side. T. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Now usually spelled crackerjack. ] [ prob. from crack + jack, a man. ] 1. An individual of marked ability or excellence, esp. in some sport; as, he is a crackajack at tennis. [ Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A preparation of popped corn, candied and pressed into small cakes. [ U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

a. [ Now usually spelled crackerjack. ] Of marked ability or excellence. [ Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. [ also spelled crackerjack. ] [ prob. from crack + jack, a man. ] 1. An individual of marked ability or excellence, esp. in some sport; as, he is a crackajack at tennis. [ Slang ]
Syn. -- jimdandy, jimhickey. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

2. A preparation of popped corn, candied and pressed into small cakes. The name Cracker Jack(TM) is now a trademark for a similar confection. [ U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

3. something excellent of its kind.
Syn. -- jimdandy, jimhickey. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ also spelled crackajack. ] Of marked ability or excellence. [ Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. (Naut.) The lowest square sail, or the lower yard of the mizzenmast. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ejaculated p. pr. & vb. n. Ejaculating. ] [ L. ejaculatus, p. p. of ejaculari to throw out; e out + ejaculari to throw, fr. jaculum javelin, dart, fr. jacere to throw. See Eject. ] 1. To throw out suddenly and swiftly, as if a dart; to dart; to eject. [ Archaic or Technical ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Its active rays ejaculated thence. Blackmore. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To throw out, as an exclamation; to utter by a brief and sudden impulse; as, to ejaculate a prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To utter ejaculations; to make short and hasty exclamations. [ R. ] “Ejaculating to himself.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. to eject semen; -- of a male animal (esp. a human or other mammal) during coitus. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. éjaculation. ] 1. The act of throwing or darting out with a sudden force and rapid flight. [ Archaic or Technical ] “An ejaculation or irradiation of the eye.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The uttering of a short, sudden exclamation or prayer, or the exclamation or prayer uttered. [ 1913 Webster ]

In your dressing, let there be jaculations fitted to the several actions of dressing. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Physiol.) The act of ejecting or suddenly throwing, as a fluid from a duct. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. See Ejaculate. ] (Anat.) A muscle which helps ejaculation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Casting or throwing out; fitted to eject; as, ejaculatory vessels. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Suddenly darted out; uttered in short sentences; as, an ejaculatory prayer or petition. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Sudden; hasty. [ Obs. ] “Ejaculatory repentances, that take us by fits and starts.” L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A flat cake turned on the griddle while cooking; a griddlecake or pancake. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fried dough cake containing fruit; a turnover. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. same as hijack. [ Rare ]
Syn. -- commandeer, hijack, high-jack, pirate, expropriate. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Same as highjacking.
Syn. -- hijack. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The seizure of control of a vehicle while it is in transit, either to rob it or divert it to an alternate destination.
Syn. -- hijacking. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } n. [ See Interjacent. ] The state of being between; a coming or lying between or among; intervention; also, that which lies between. [ 1913 Webster ]

England and Scotland is divided only by the interjacency of the Tweed. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. interjacens, -entis, p. pr. of interjacere to lie between; inter between + jacēre to lie. ] Lying or being between or among; intervening; as, interjacent isles. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To ejaculate parenthetically. [ R. ] Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Amer. Sp., fr. Mex. xacalli. ] In Mexico and the southwestern United States, a kind of plastered house or hut, usually made by planting poles or timber in the ground, filling in between them with screen work or wickerwork, and daubing one or both sides with mud or adobe mortar; also, this method of construction. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. jacamar, Braz. jacamarica; cf. Sp. jacamar. ] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of tropical American birds of the genus Galbula and allied genera. They are allied to the kingfishers, but climb on tree trunks like nuthatches, and feed upon insects. Their colors are often brilliant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Sp. jacania. ] (Zool.) Any of several wading birds belonging to the genus Jacana and several allied genera, all of which have spurs on the wings. They are able to run about over floating water weeds by means of their very long, spreading toes. Called also surgeon bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The most common South American species is Jacana spinosa. The East Indian or pheasant jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is remarkable for having four very long, curved, middle tail feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Braz.; cf. Sp. & Pg. jacaranda. ] (Bot.) (a) The native Brazilian name for certain leguminous trees, which produce the beautiful woods called king wood, tiger wood, and violet wood. (b) A genus of bignoniaceous Brazilian trees with showy trumpet-shaped flowers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pg. jacaré; of Brazilian origin. ] (Zool.) A cayman. See Yacare. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., fr. L. Jacchus a mystic name of Bacchus, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Zool.) The common marmoset (Hapale vulgaris). Formerly, the name was also applied to other species of the same genus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Jaconet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. jacens, p. pr. of jacere to lie: cf. F. jacent. ] Lying at length; as, the jacent posture. [ R. ] Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. jacinthe, L. hyacinthus. See Hyacinth. ] See Hyacinth. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. Jacques James, L. Jacobus, Gr. &unr_;, Heb. Ya 'aqōb Jacob; prop., seizing by the heel; hence, a supplanter. Cf. Jacobite, Jockey. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A familiar nickname of, or substitute for, John. [ 1913 Webster ]

You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An impertinent or silly fellow; a simpleton; a boor; a clown; also, a servant; a rustic. “Jack fool.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Since every Jack became a gentleman,
There 's many a gentle person made a Jack. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A popular colloquial name for a sailor; -- called also Jack tar, and Jack afloat. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A portable machine variously constructed, for exerting great pressure, or lifting or moving a heavy body such as an automobile 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The small bowl used as a mark in the game of bowls. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like an uninstructed bowler who thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straight forward upon it. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. The male of certain animals, as of the ass. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Zool.) (a) A young pike; a pickerel. (b) The jurel. (c) A large, California rock fish (Sebastodes paucispinus); -- called also boccaccio, and mérou. (d) The wall-eyed pike. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. A drinking measure holding half a pint; also, one holding a quarter of a pint. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. The knave of a suit of playing cards.

12. (pl.) A game played with small (metallic, with tetrahedrally oriented spikes) objects (the jacks(1950+), formerly jackstones) that are tossed, caught, picked up, and arranged on a horizontal surface in various patterns; in the modern American game, the movements are accompanied by tossing or bouncing a rubber ball on the horizontal surface supporting the jacks. same as jackstones. [ PJC ]

13. Money. [ slang ] [ PJC ]

14. Apple jack. [ PJC ]

15. Brandy. [ PJC ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 (Zool.), the whimbrel. --
Jack frame. (Cotton Spinning) See 4 (g), above. --
Jack Frost, frost or cold weather 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. See also jackpot. --
Jack rabbit (Zool.), 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 (Lepus 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 (Lepus 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 (Zool.), 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. (Zool.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 (Erysimum 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-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-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. --
Yellow Jack (Naut.), the yellow fever; also, the quarantine flag. See Yellow flag, under Flag. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. jaque, jacque, perh. from the proper name Jacques. Cf. Jacquerie. ] A coarse and cheap mediæval coat of defense, esp. one made of leather. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their horsemen are with jacks for most part clad. Sir J. Harrington. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Named from its resemblance to a jack boot. ] A pitcher or can of waxed leather; -- called also black jack. [ Obs. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To hunt game at night by means of a jack. See 2d Jack, n., 4, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To move or lift, as a house, by means of a jack or jacks. See 2d Jack, n., 5. [ 1913 Webster ]