jack

I. noun Etymology: Middle English Jacke, familiar term of address to a social inferior, nickname for Johan John Date: 1548 1. a. man — usually used as an intensive in such phrases as every man jack b. often capitalized sailor c. (1) servant, laborer (2) lumberjack 2. any of various usually mechanical devices: as a. a device for turning a spit b. a usually portable mechanism or device for exerting pressure or lifting a heavy body a short distance 3. something that supports or holds in position: as a. an iron bar at a topgallant masthead to support a royal mast and spread the royal shrouds b. a wooden brace fastened behind a scenic unit in a stage set to prop it up 4. a. any of several fishes; especially any of various carangids b. a male donkey c. jackrabbit d. any of several birds (as a jackdaw) 5. a. a small white target ball in lawn bowling b. a small national flag flown by a ship c. (1) plural but singular in construction a game played with a set of small objects that are tossed, caught, and moved in various figures (2) a small 6-pointed metal object used in the game of jacks 6. a. a playing card carrying the figure of a soldier or servant and ranking usually below the queen b. jackpot 1a(2) 7. slang money 8. a female fitting in an electric circuit used with a plug to make a connection with another circuit 9. a. applejack b. brandy 10. jackknife 2 11. Monterey Jack II. verb Date: circa 1841 intransitive verb to hunt or fish at night with a jacklight transitive verb 1. to hunt or fish for at night with a jacklight 2. a. to move or lift by or as if by a jack b. to raise the level of — usually used with up <

jack up the price

> c. to take to task • jacker noun