Definition of jack

What does the word jack mean?

• part of speech: verb transitive

  Hoist with jack: ruin; j. up, abandon (attempt &c. or abs.).

• part of speech: noun

  (J-) familiar form of name John, esp. as type of the common people, as J. & GILL; every man j., every individual; =j.-tar; labourer, man who does odd jobs, &c.; CHEAP J.; STEEPLE-j.; (Cards) knave; machine for turning spit in roasting meat; machine for lifting heavy weights; (also carriage-j.) machine for lifting axle off ground while cleaning wheel; BOOT -j.; parts of various machines &c.; pike, esp. young or small one; J. Frost. frost personified; before you could say J. Robinson, very quickly or suddenly; J.-a-dandy, dandy; jackass, male ass, dolt, blockhead; laughing jackass, Giant Kingfisher of Australia; j.-boot, large boot coming above knee, worn by fishermen &c.; jackdaw, daw; J. in office, consequential petty official; j.-in-the-box, toy figure that springs out of box when lid is raised, (also) kind of firework; J.-in-the-green, man or boy enclosed in framework covered with leaves in May-day sports; J.Ketch, common hangman; j.-knife, large clasp-knife for the pocket; J. of all trades, one who can turn his hand to anything; j.-o-lantern, will o\'-the-wisp (often fig.); j.-plane (for coarse work); j.-pudding, buffoon, clown; j.-snipe (small species); j.-tar, common sailor; j.-towel (endless, hung from roller). [French]

• part of speech: noun

  Ship\'s flag, smaller than ensign, esp. one flown from j.-staff at bow, indicating nationality, as British, French, j.; UNION J.

• part of speech: noun

  (archaic). Foot-soldier\'s sleeveless tunic; (also black j.) vessel for liquor, usu. of waxed leather coated with tar &c. [French]

• part of speech: noun

  English-Ind. fruit, like bread-fruit but coarser.