[jack] n [ME Jacke, familiar term of address to a social inferior, nickname for Johan John] (1548) 1 a: man--usu. used as an intensive in such phrases as every man jack b often cap: sailor c (1): servant, laborer (2): lumberjack
2: any of various usu. mechanical devices: as a: a device for turning a spit b: a usu. 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; esp: 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) pl but sing in constr: 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 usu. 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
[2]jack vi (ca. 1841): to hunt or fish at night with a jacklight ~ vt 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--usu. used with up "~ up the price" c: to take to task -- jack.er n