Chapter I: W. W (1)

I. W. W. (Abbrev.)

Defn: Industrial Workers of the World (the name of two American labor organizations, one of which advocates syndicalism).

IXIA Ix"i*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A South African bulbous plant of the Iris family, remarkable for the brilliancy of its flowers.

IXODES Ix*o"des, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of parasitic Acarina, which includes various species of ticks. See Tick, the insect.

IXODIAN Ix*o"di*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tick of the genus Ixodes, or the family Ixodidæ.

IXTLE; IXTLI Ix"tle, Ix"tli, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A Mexican name for a variety of Agave rigida, which furnishes a strong coarse fiber; also, the fiber itself, which is called also pita, and Tampico fiber. [Written also istle.]

IXTLE; IXTIL Ix"tle Ix"til, n.

Defn: The fine, soft fiber of the bromeliaceous plant Bromelia sylvestris.

IZARD Iz"ard, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A variety of the chamois found in the Pyrenees.

-IZE -ize. Etym: [F. -iser, L. -izare, Gr.

Defn: A verb suffix signifying to make, to do, to practice; as apologize, baptize, theorize, tyrannize.

Note: In the case of certain words the spelling with -ise (after analogy with F. -iser) is the usual form; as, catechise, criticise. With regard to most words, however, which have this suffix there is a diversity of usage, some authorities spelling -ise, others (as in this book) -ize.

IZEDI Iz"e*di, n.

Defn: One of an Oriental religious sect which worships Satan or the Devil. The Izedis or Yezdis, the so-called Devil worshipers, still remain a numerous though oppressed people in Mesopotamia and adjacent countries. Tylor.

IZEDISM Iz"e*dism, n.

Defn: The religion of the Izedis.

IZZARD Iz"zard, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Izard.

IZZARD Iz"zard, n. Etym: [Formerly ezed, prob. fr. F. et zÉde and z.]

Defn: The letter z; -- formerly so called.

J

Defn: . J is the tenth letter of the English alphabet. It is a later variant form of the Roman letter I, used to express a consonantal sound, that is, originally, the sound of English y in yet. The forms J and I have, until a recent time, been classed together, and they have been used interchangeably.

Note: In medical prescriptions j is still used in place of i at the end of a number, as a Roman numeral; as, vj, xij. J is etymologically most closely related to i, y, g; as in jot, iota; jest, gesture; join, jugular, yoke. See I. J is a compound vocal consonant, nearly equivalent in sound to dzh. It is exactly the same as g in gem. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 179, 211, 239.

JAAL GOAT Jaal" goat`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of wild goat (Capra Nubiana) found in the mountains of Abyssinia, Upper Egypt, and Arabia; -- called also beden, and jaela.

JAB Jab, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Job.]

Defn: To thrust; to stab; to punch. See Job, v. t. [Scot. & Colloq. U. S.]

JAB Jab, n.

Defn: A thrust or stab. [Scot. & Colloq. U. S.]

JABBER Jab"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Jabbered; p. pr. & vb. n. Jabbering.] Etym: [Cf. Gibber, Gabble.]

Defn: To talk rapidly, indistinctly, or unintelligibly; to utter gibberish or nonsense; to chatter. Swift.

JABBER Jab"ber, v. t.

Defn: To utter rapidly or indistinctly; to gabble; as, to jabber French. Addison.

JABBER Jab"ber, n.

Defn: Rapid or incoherent talk, with indistinct utterance; gibberish. Swift.

JABBER Jab"ber, n.

Defn: One who jabbers.

JABBERER Jab"ber*er, n.

Defn: One who jabbers.

JABBERINGLY Jab"ber*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a jabbering manner.

JABBERMENT Jab"ber*ment, n.

Defn: Jabber. [R.] Milton.

JABBERNOWL Jab"ber*nowl`, n.

Defn: Same as Jobbernowl.

JABIRU Jab"i*ru, n. Etym: [Braz. jabirú, jaburú.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of several large wading birds of the genera Mycteria and Xenorhynchus, allied to the storks in form and habits.

Note: The American jabiru (Mycteria Americana) is white, with the head and neck black and nearly bare of feathers. The East Indian and Australian (Xenorhynchus Australis) has the neck, head, and back covered with glossy, dark green feathers, changing on the head to purple. The African jabiru (Mycteria, or Ephippiorhynchus, Senegalensis) has the neck, head, wing coverts, and tail, black, and is called also saddle-billed stork.

JABORANDI Jab`o*ran"di, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The native name of a South American rutaceous shrub (Pilocarpus pennatifolius). The leaves are used in medicine as an diaphoretic and sialogogue.

JABORINE Jab"o*rine, n. Etym: [From Jaborandi.] (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid found in jaborandi leaves, from which it is extracted as a white amorphous substance. In its action it resembles atropine.

JABOT Jab"ot, n. Etym: [F.]

1. Originally, a kind of ruffle worn by men on the bosom of the shirt.

2. An arrangement of lace or tulle, looped ornamentally, and worn by women on the front of the dress.

JACAL Ja*cal" (hä*käl"; 239), n. [Amer. Sp., fr. Mex. xacalli.]

Defn: 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.

JACAMAR Jac"a*mar`, n. Etym: [F. jacamar, Braz. jacamarica; cf. Sp. jacamar.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

JACANA Jac"a*na`, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. jacania.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

Note: 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.

JACARANDA Jac`a*ran"da, n. Etym: [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.

JACARE Jac"a*re`, n. Etym: [Pg. jacaré; of Brazilian origin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A cayman. See Yacare.

JACCHUS Jac"chus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Jacchus a mystic name of Bacchus, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common marmoset (Hapale vulgaris). Formerly, the name was also applied to other species of the same genus.

JACCONET Jac"co*net, n.

Defn: See Jaconet.

JACENT Ja"cent, a. Etym: [L. jacens, p. pr. of jacere to lie: cf. F. jacent.]

Defn: Lying at length; as, the jacent posture. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

JACINTH Ja"cinth, n. Etym: [F. jacinthe, L. hyacinthus. See Hyacinth.]

Defn: See Hyacinth. Tennyson.

JACK Jack, n. Etym: [Pg. jaca, Malayalam, tsjaka.] (Bot.)

Defn: 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.]

JACK Jack, n. Etym: [F. Jacques James, L. Jacobus, Gr. Ya 'aq Jacob; prop., seizing by the heel; hence, a supplanter. Cf. Jacobite, Jockey.]

1. A familiar nickname of, or substitute for, John. You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby. Shak.

2. An impertinent or silly fellow; a simpleton; a boor; a clown; also, a servant; a rustic. "Jack fool." Chaucer. Since every Jack became a gentleman, There 's many a gentle person made a Jack. Shak.

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

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.

5. A portable machine variously constructed, for exerting great pressure, or lifting or moving a heavy body 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.

6. The small bowl used as a mark in the game of bowls. Shak. Like an uninstructed bowler who thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straight forward upon it. Sir W. Scott.

7. The male of certain animals, as of the ass.

8. (Zoöl.) (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.

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

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.

11. The knave of a suit of playing cards.

Note: 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. 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 (Zoöl.), the whimbrel. -- Jack frame. (Cotton Spinning) See 4 (g), above. -- Jack Frost, frost 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. -- Jack rabbit (Zoöl.), 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 (L. 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 (L. 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 (Zoöl.), 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. (Zoöl.) 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. 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 (E. 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-a-box. (a) (Bot.) A tropical tree (Hernandia sonora), which bears a drupe that rattles when dry in the inflated calyx. (b) A child's toy, consisting of a box, out of which, when the lid is raised, a figure springs. (c) (Mech.) An epicyclic train of bevel gears for transmitting rotary motion to two parts in such a manner that their relative rotation may be variable; applied to driving the wheels of tricycles, road locomotives, and to cotton machinery, etc.; an equation box; a jack frame; -- called also compensating gearing. (d) A large wooden screw turning in a nut attached to the crosspiece of a rude press. -- 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-in-the-pulpit (Bot.), the American plant Arisæma triphyllum, or Indian turnip, in which the upright spadix is inclosed. -- 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. -- Jack-with-a-lantern, Jack-o'-lantern. (a) An ignis fatuus; a will-o'-the-wisp. "[Newspaper speculations] supplying so many more jack-o'-lanterns to the future historian." Lowell. (b) A lantern made of a pumpkin so prepared as to show in illumination the features of a human face, etc. -- Yellow Jack (Naut.), the yellow fever; also, the quarantine flag. See Yellow flag, under Flag.

JACK Jack, n. Etym: [F. jaque, jacque, perh. from the proper name Jacques. Cf. Jacquerie.]

Defn: A coarse and cheap mediæval coat of defense, esp. one made of leather. Their horsemen are with jacks for most part clad. Sir J. Harrington.

JACK Jack, n. Etym: [Named from its resemblance to a jack boot.]

Defn: A pitcher or can of waxed leather; -- called also black jack. [Obs.] Dryden.

JACK Jack, v. i.

Defn: To hunt game at night by means of a jack. See 2d Jack, n., 4, n.

JACK Jack, v. t.

Defn: To move or lift, as a house, by means of a jack or jacks. See 2d Jack, n., 5.

JACK-A-DANDY Jack`-a-dan"dy, n.

Defn: A little dandy; a little, foppish, impertinent fellow.

JACKAL Jack"al`, n. Etym: [Pers. shaghal: cf. OF. jackal, F. chacal; cf. Skr. ç\'f0gala.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of carnivorous animals inhabiting Africa and Asia, related to the dog and wolf. They are cowardly, nocturnal, and gregarious. They feed largely on carrion, and are noted for their piercing and dismal howling.

Note: The common species of Southern Asia (Canis aureus) is yellowish gray, varied with brown on the shoulders, haunches, and legs. The common African species (C. anthus) is darker in color.

2. One who does mean work for another's advantage, as jackals were once thought to kill game which lions appropriated. [Colloq.] Ld. Lytton.

JACK-A-LENT Jack"-a-lent, n.

Defn: A small stuffed puppet to be pelted in Lent; hence, a simple fellow.

JACKANAPES Jack"a*napes, n. Etym: [For Jack o' (= of) apes; prop., a man who exhibits apes.] [Written also jackanape.]

1. A monkey; an ape. Shak.

2. A coxcomb; an impertinent or conceited fellow. A young upstart jackanapes. Arbuthnot.

JACKAROO; JACKEROO Jack`a*roo", n. Also Jack`e*roo". [Jack + kangaroo.]

Defn: A young man living as an apprentice on a sheep station, or otherwise engaged in acquainting himself with colonial life. [Colloq., Australia]

JACKAROO Jack`a*roo", v. i.

Defn: To be a jackaroo; to pass one's time as a jackaroo. [Colloq., Australia]

JACKASS Jack"ass`, n. Etym: [2d jack + ass.]

1. The male ass; a donkey.

2. A conceited dolt; a perverse blockhead. Jackass bark (Naut.), a three-masted vessel, with only the foremast square-rigged; a barkentine. -- Jackass deer (Zoöl.), the koba. -- Jackass hare, Jackass rabbit (Zoöl.). See Jack rabbit, under 2d Jack, n. -- Jackass penguin (Zoöl.), any species of penguin of the genus Spheniscus, of which several are known. One species (S. demersus) inhabits the islands near the Cape of Good Hope; another (S. Magellanicus) is found at the Falkland Islands. They make a noise like the braying of an ass; -- hence the name. -- Laughing jackass. (Zoöl.) See under Laughing.

JACKDAW Jack"daw`, n. Etym: [Prob. 2d jack + daw, n.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Daw, n.

JACKEEN Jack*een", n.

Defn: A drunken, dissolute fellow. [Ireland] S. C. Hall.

JACKET Jack"et, n. Etym: [F. jaquette, dim. of jaque. See 3d Jack, n.]

1. A short upper garment, extending downward to the hips; a short coat without skirts.

2. An outer covering for anything, esp. a covering of some nonconducting material such as wood or felt, used to prevent radiation of heat, as from a steam boiler, cylinder, pipe, etc.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: In ordnance, a strengthening band surrounding and reënforcing the tube in which the charge is fired.

4. A garment resembling a waistcoat lined with cork, to serve as a life preserver; -- called also cork jacket. Blue jacket. (Naut.) See under Blue. -- Steam jacket, a space filled with steam between an inner and an outer cylinder, or between a casing and a receptacle, as a kettle. -- To dust one's jacket, to give one a beating. [Colloq.]

JACKET Jack"et, v. t.

1. To put a jacket on; to furnish, as a boiler, with a jacket.

2. To thrash; to beat. [Low]

JACKETED Jack"et*ed, a.

Defn: Wearing, or furnished with, a jacket.

JACKETING Jack"et*ing, n.

Defn: The material of a jacket; as, nonconducting jacketing.

JACK KETCH Jack" Ketch". Etym: [Perh. fr. Jack, the proper name + Prov. E. ketch a hangman, fr. ketch, for catch to seize; but see the citations below.]

Defn: A public executioner, or hangman. [Eng.] The manor of Tyburn was formerly held by Richard Jaquett, where felons for a long time were executed; from whence we have Jack Ketch. Lloyd's MS., British Museum. [Monmouth] then accosted John Ketch, the executioner, a wretch who had butchered many brave and noble victims, and whose name has, during a century and a half, been vulgarly given to all who have succeeded him in his odious office. Macaulay.

JACKKNIFE Jack"knife`, n.

Defn: A large, strong clasp knife for the pocket; a pocket knife.

JACK-'-LANTERN Jack"-o'-lan`tern, n.

Defn: See Jack-with-a-lantern, under 2d Jack.

JACKMAN Jack"man, n.; pl. Jackmen (.

1. One wearing a jack; a horse soldier; a retainer. See 3d Jack, n. Christie . . . the laird's chief jackman. Sir W. Scott.

2. A cream cheese. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

JACK-O'-LANTERN Jack"-o'-lan`tern, n.

Defn: See Jack-with-a-lantern, under 2d Jack. JACKPOT Jackpot

Defn: 1. (a) See "jack pot" under jack; (b) any larger-than-usual gambling prize formed by the accumulation of unwon bets[=MW10 1(a)(2) and 1(c)]; (c) the highest gambling prize awarded in a gambling game in which smaller prizes are also awarded, especially such a prize on a slot machine.

Defn: 2. (a) An unusually large success in an enterprise, either unexpected or unpredictable, esp. one providing a great financial benefit. hit the jackpotto receive an unexpectedly large (or the largest possible) benefit from an enterprise.

JACKPUDDING Jack"pud`ding, n.

Defn: A merry-andrew; a buffoon. Milton.

JACKSAW Jack"saw`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The merganser.

JACKSCREW Jack"screw`, n.

Defn: A jack in which a screw is used for lifting, or exerting pressure. See Illust. of 2d Jack, n., 5.

JACKSLAVE Jack"slave`, n.

Defn: A low servant; a mean fellow. Shak.

JACKSMITH Jack"smith`, n.

Defn: A smith who makes jacks. See 2d Jack, 4, c. Dryden.

JACKSNIPE Jack"snipe`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A small European snipe (Limnocryptes gallinula); -- called also judcock, jedcock, juddock, jed, and half snipe. (b) A small American sandpiper (Tringa maculata); -- called also pectoral sandpiper, and grass snipe.

JACKSTAY Jack"stay`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A rail of wood or iron stretching along a yard of a vessel, to which the sails are fastened.

JACKSTONE Jack"stone`, n. (a) One of the pebbles or pieces used in the game of jackstones. (b) (pl.) A game played with five small stones or pieces of metal. See 6th Chuck.

JACKSTRAW Jack"straw`, n.

1. An effigy stuffed with straw; a scarecrow; hence, a man without property or influence. Milton.

2. One of a set of straws of strips of ivory, bone, wood, etc., for playing a child's game, the jackstraws being thrown confusedly together on a table, to be gathered up singly by a hooked instrument, without touching or disturbing the rest of the pile. See Spilikin.

JACKWOOD Jack"wood`, n.

Defn: Wood of the jack (Artocarpus integrifolia), used in cabinetwork.

JACKY Jack"y, n.; pl. Jackies (#). Dim. or pet from Jack. Hence: (a) A landsman's nickname for a seaman, resented by the latter. (b) English gin. [Dial. Eng.]

JACOB Ja"cob, n. Etym: [Cf. F. Jacob. See 2d Jack.]

Defn: A Hebrew patriarch (son of Isaac, and ancestor of the Jews), who in a vision saw a ladder reaching up to heaven (Gen. xxviii. 12); -- also called Israel. And Jacob said . . . with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. Gen. xxxii. 9, 10. Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel. Gen. xxxii. 28. Jacob's ladder. (a) (Bot.) A perennial herb of the genus Polemonium (P. coeruleum), having corymbs of drooping flowers, usually blue. Gray. (b) (Naut.) A rope ladder, with wooden steps, for going aloft. R. H. Dana, Jr. (c) (Naut.) A succession of short cracks in a defective spar. -- Jacob's membrane. See Retina. -- Jacob's staff. (a) A name given to many forms of staff or weapon, especially in the Middle Ages; a pilgrim's staff. [Obs.] Spenser. (b) (Surveying) See under Staff.

JACOBAEAN LILY Jac`o*bæ"an lil"y. Etym: [See Jacobean.] (Bot.)

Defn: A bulbous plant (Amaryllis, or Sprekelia, formosissima) from Mexico. It bears a single, large, deep, red, lilylike flower. [Written also Jacobean.]

JACOBEAN; JACOBIAN Ja*co"be*an, Ja*co"bi*an, a. Etym: [From L. Jacobus James. See 2d Jack.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a style of architecture and decoration in the time of James the First, of England. "A Jacobean table." C. L. Eastlake.

JACOBIN Jac"o*bin, n. Etym: [F. See 2d Jack, Jacobite.]

1. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: A Dominican friar; -- so named because, before the French Revolution, that order had a convent in the Rue St. Jacques, Paris.

2. One of a society of violent agitators in France, during the revolution of 1789, who held secret meetings in the Jacobin convent in the Rue St. Jacques, Paris, and concerted measures to control the proceedings of the National Assembly. Hence: A plotter against an existing government; a turbulent demagogue.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fancy pigeon, in which the feathers of the neck form a hood, -- whence the name. The wings and tail are long, and the beak moderately short.

JACOBIN Jac"o*bin, a.

Defn: Same as Jacobinic.

JACOBINE Jac"o*bine, n.

Defn: A Jacobin.

JACOBINIC; JACOBINICAL Jac`o*bin"ic, Jac`o*bin"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Jacobins of France; revolutionary; of the nature of, or characterized by, Jacobinism. Burke. -- Jac`o*bin"ic*al*ly, adv.

JACOBINISM Jac"o*bin*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. Jacobinisme.]

Defn: The principles of the Jacobins; violent and factious opposition to legitimate government. Under this new stimulus, Burn's previous Jacobitism passed towards the opposite, but not very distant, extreme of Jacobinism. J. C. Shairp.

JACOBINIZE Jac"o*bin*ize`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jacobinized; p. pr. & vb. n. Jacobinizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. Jacobiniser.]

Defn: To taint with, or convert to, Jacobinism. France was not then jacobinized. Burke.

JACOBITE Jac"o*bite, n. Etym: [L. Jacobus James: cf. F. Jacobite. See 2d Jack.]

1. (Eng. Hist.)

Defn: A partisan or adherent of James the Second, after his abdication, or of his descendants, an opposer of the revolution in 1688 in favor of William and Mary. Macaulay.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: One of the sect of Syrian Monophysites. The sect is named after Jacob Baradæus, its leader in the sixth century.

JACOBITE Jac"o*bite, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Jacobites.

JACOBITIC; JACOBITICAL Jac`o*bit"ic, Jac`o*bit"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Jacobites; characterized by Jacobitism. -- Jac`o*bit"ic*al*ly, adv.

JACOBITISM Jac"o*bit*ism`, n.

Defn: The principles of the Jacobites. Mason.

JACOBUS Ja*co"bus, n.; pl. Jacobuses. Etym: [See Jacobite.]

Defn: An English gold coin, of the value of twenty-five shillings sterling, struck in the reign of James I.

JACONET Jac"o*net, n. Etym: [F. jaconas.]

Defn: A thin cotton fabric, between and muslin, used for dresses, neckcloths, etc. [Written also jacconet.]

JACQUARD Jac*quard", a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or invented by, Jacquard, a French mechanician, who died in 1834. Jacquard apparatus or arrangement, a device applied to looms for weaving figured goods, consisting of mechanism controlled by a chain of variously perforated cards, which cause the warp threads to be lifted in the proper succession for producing the required figure. -- Jacquard card, one of the perforated cards of a Jacquard apparatus. -- Jackquard loom, a loom with Jacquard apparatus.

JACQUEMINOT Jacque"mi*not, n.

Defn: A half-hardy, deep crimson rose of the remontant class; -- so named after General Jacqueminot, of France.

JACQUERIE Jacque`rie", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: The name given to a revolt of French peasants against the nobles in 1358, the leader assuming the contemptuous title, Jacques Bonhomme, given by the nobles to the peasantry. Hence, any revolt of peasants.

JACTANCY Jac"tan*cy, n. Etym: [L. jactantia, fr. jactans, p. pr. of jactare to throw, boast, freq. fr. jacere to throw; cf. F. jactance.]

Defn: A boasting; a bragging. [Obs.]

JACTATION Jac*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. jactatio, fr. jactare: af. F. jactation. See Jactancy.]

Defn: A throwing or tossing of the body; a shaking or agitation. Sir. W. Temple.

JACTITATION Jac"ti*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. jactitare to utter in public, from jactare. See Jactancy.]

1. (Law)

Defn: Vain boasting or assertions repeated to the prejudice of another's right; false claim. Mozley & W.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A frequent tossing or moving of the body; restlessness, as in delirium. Dunglison. Jactitation of marriage (Eng. Eccl. Law), a giving out or boasting by a party that he or she is married to another, whereby a common reputation of their matrimony may ensue. Blackstone.

JACULABLE Jac"u*la*ble, a.

Defn: Fit for throwing. [Obs.]

JACULATE Jac"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jaculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Jaculating.] Etym: [L. jaculatus, p. p. of jaculari. See Ejaculate.]

Defn: To throw or cast, as a dart; to throw out; to emit.

JACULATION Jac`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. jaculatio.]

Defn: The act of tossing, throwing, or hurling, as spears. Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire. Milton.

JACULATOR Jac"u*la`tor, Etym: [L.]

1. One who throws or casts. [R.]

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The archer fish (Toxotes jaculator).

JACULATORY Jac"u*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. jaculatorius: cf. F. jaculatoire.]

Defn: Darting or throwing out suddenly; also, suddenly thrown out; uttered in short sentences; ejaculatory; as, jaculatory prayers. Smart.

JADDING Jad"ding, n. (Mining)

Defn: See Holing.

JADE Jade, n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. jade, fr. piedra de ijada stone of the side, fr. ijada flank, side, pain in the side, the stone being so named because it was supposed to cure this pain. Sp. ijada is derived fr. L. ilia flanks. Cf. Iliac.] (Min.)

Defn: A stone, commonly of a pale to dark green color but sometimes whitish. It is very hard and compact, capable of fine polish, and is used for ornamental purposes and for implements, esp. in Eastern countries and among many early peoples.

Note: The general term jade includes nephrite, a compact variety of tremolite with a specific gravity of 3, and also the mineral jadeite, a silicate of alumina and soda, with a specific gravity of 3.3. The latter is the more highly prized and includes the feitsui of the Chinese. The name has also been given to other tough green minerals capable of similar use.

JADE Jade, n. Etym: [OE. jade; cf. Prov. E. yaud, Scot. yade, yad, yaud, Icel. jalda a mare.]

1. A mean or tired horse; a worthless nag. Chaucer. Tired as a jade in overloaden cart. Sir P. Sidney.

2. A disreputable or vicious woman; a wench; a quean; also, sometimes, a worthless man. Shak. She shines the first of battered jades. Swift.

3. A young woman; -- generally so called in irony or slight contempt. A souple jade she was, and strang. Burns.

JADE Jade, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Jading.]

1. To treat like a jade; to spurn. [Obs.] Shak.

2. To make ridiculous and contemptible. [Obs.] I do now fool myself, to let imagination jade me. Shak.

3. To exhaust by overdriving or long-continued labor of any kind; to tire or wear out by severe or tedious tasks; to harass. The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, . . . checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after. Locke.

Syn. -- To fatigue; tire; weary; harass. -- To Jade, Fatigue, Tire, Weary. Fatigue is the generic term; tire denotes fatigue which wastes the strength; weary implies that a person is worn out by exertion; jade refers to the weariness created by a long and steady repetition of the same act or effort. A little exertion will tire a child or a weak person; a severe or protracted task wearies equally the body and the mind; the most powerful horse becomes jaded on a long journey by a continual straining of the same muscles. Wearied with labor of body or mind; tired of work, tired out by importunities; jaded by incessant attention to business.

JADE Jade, v. i.

Defn: To become weary; to lose spirit. They . . . fail, and jade, and tire in the prosecution. South.

JADEITE Jade"ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Jade, the stone.

JADERY Jad"er*y, n.

Defn: The tricks of a jade.

JADISH Jad"ish, a.

1. Vicious; ill-tempered; resembling a jade; -- applied to a horse.

2. Unchaste; -- applied to a woman. L'Estrange.

JAEGER Jae"ger, n.

Defn: See Jager.

JAG Jag, n. Etym: [Prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. gag aperture, cleft, chink; akin to Ir. & Gael. gag.] [Written also jagg.]

1. A notch; a cleft; a barb; a ragged or sharp protuberance; a denticulation. Arethuss arose . . . From rock and from jag. Shelley. Garments thus beset with long jags. Holland.

2. A part broken off; a fragment. Bp. Hacket.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: A cleft or division. Jag bolt, a bolt with a nicked or barbed shank which resists retraction, as when leaded into stone.

JAG Jag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Jagging.]

Defn: To cut into notches or teeth like those of a saw; to notch. [Written also jagg. Jagging iron, a wheel with a zigzag or jagged edge for cutting cakes or pastry into ornamental figures.

JAG Jag, n. Etym: [Scot. jag, jaug, a leather bag or wallet, a pocket. Cf. Jag a notch.]

Defn: A small load, as of hay or grain in the straw, or of ore. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.] [Written also jagg.] Forby.

JAG Jag, v. t.

Defn: To carry, as a load; as, to jag hay, etc. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

JAGANATHA; JAGANATHA Jag`a*nat"ha, Jag`a*nat"ha, n.

Defn: See Juggernaut.

JAGANNATH; JAGANNATHA; JUGGERNAUT Jag"an*nath, Jag`an*na"tha, n. Also Jug"ger*naut. [Hind. Jagan-nath lord of the world, Skr. jagannatha.] (Hinduism)

Defn: A particular form of Vishnu, or of Krishna, whose chief idol and worship are at Puri, in Orissa. The idol is considered to contain the bones of Krishna and to possess a soul. The principal festivals are the Snanayatra, when the idol is bathed, and the Rathayatra, when the image is drawn upon a car adorned with obscene paintings. Formerly it was erroneously supposed that devotees allowed themselves to be crushed beneath the wheels of this car. It is now known that any death within the temple of Jagannath is considered to render the place unclean, and any spilling of blood in the presence of the idol is a pollution.

JAGER Ja"ger, n. Etym: [G. jäger a hunter, a sportsman. Cf. Yager.] [Written also jaeger.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: A sharpshooter. See Yager.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of gull of the genus Stercorarius. Three species occur on the Atlantic coast. The jagers pursue other species of gulls and force them to disgorge their prey. The two middle tail feathers are usually decidedly longer than the rest. Called also boatswain, and marline-spike bird. The name is also applied to the skua, or Arctic gull (Megalestris skua).

JAGG Jagg, v. t. & n.

Defn: See Jag.

JAGGED Jag"ged, a.

Defn: Having jags; having rough, sharp notches, protuberances, or teeth; cleft; laciniate; divided; as, jagged rocks. " Jagged vine leaves' shade." Trench. -- Jag"ged*ly, adv. -- Jag"ged*ness, n.

JAGGER Jag"ger, n.

Defn: One who carries about a small load; a peddler. See 2d Jag. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

JAGGER Jag"ger, n. Etym: [From 4th Jag.]

Defn: One who, or that which, jags; specifically: (a) jagging iron used for crimping pies, cakes, etc. (b) A toothed chisel. See Jag, v. t. Jagger spring, a spring beneath a seat, and resting on cleats or blocks in the body of a vehicle. Knight.

JAGGERY Jag"ger*y, n. Etym: [Hind jagri. Cf. Sugar.]

Defn: Raw palm sugar, made in the East Indies by evaporating the fresh juice of several kinds of palm trees, but specifically that of the palmyra (Borassus flabelliformis). [Written also jagghery.]

JAGGERY PALM Jag"ger*y palm.

Defn: An East Indian palm (Caryota urens) having leaves pinnate with wedge-shaped divisions, the petiole very stout. It is the principal source of jaggery, and is often cultivated for ornament.

JAGGY Jag"gy, a.

Defn: Having jags; set with teeth; notched; uneven; as, jaggy teeth. Addison.

JAGHIR Ja"ghir, n. Etym: [Per. jagir.]

Defn: A village or district the government and revenues of which are assigned to some person, usually in consideration of some service to be rendered, esp. the maintenance of troops. [Written also jaghire, jagir, etc.] [India] Whitworth.

JAGHIRDAR Ja"ghir*dar`, n. Etym: [Per. jagir-dar.]

Defn: The holder of a jaghir.

JAGUA PALM Ja"gua palm`. Etym: [Sp. jagua the fruit of the jagua palm.] (Bot.)

Defn: A great Brazilian palm (Maximiliana regia), having immense spathes which are used for baskets and tubs.

JAGUAR Ja*guar", n. Etym: [Braz. yagoára: cf. & Pg. jaguar.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large and powerful feline animal (Felis onca), ranging from Texas and Mexico to Patagonia. It is usually brownish yellow, with large, dark, somewhat angular rings, each generally inclosing one or two dark spots. It is chiefly arboreal in its habits. Called also the American tiger.

JAGUARONDI Ja`gua*ron"di, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A South American wild cat (Felis jaguarondi), having a long, slim body and very short legs. Its color is grayish brown, varied with a blackish hue. It is arboreal in its habits and feeds mostly on birds.

JAH Jah (jä), n. Etym: [Heb. yah.]

Defn: Jehovah. Ps. lxviii. 4.

JAHVIST; JAHVISTIC Jah"vist, n., Jah*vis"tic, a.

Defn: See Jehovist, Jehovistic.

JAIL Jail, n. Etym: [OE. jaile, gail, gayhol, OF. gaole, gaiole, jaiole, F. geôle, LL. gabiola, dim. of gabia cage, for L. cavea cavity, cage. See Cage.]

Defn: A kind of prison; a building for the confinement of persons held in lawful custody, especially for minor offenses or with reference to some future judicial proceeding. [Written also gaol.] This jail I count the house of liberty. Milton. Jail bird, a prisoner; one who has been confined in prison. [Slang] - - Jail delivery, the release of prisoners from jail, either legally or by violence. -- Jail delivery commission. See under Gaol. -- Jail fever (Med.), typhus fever, or a disease resembling it, generated in jails and other places crowded with people; -- called also hospital fever, and ship fever. -- Jail liberties, or Jail limits, a space or district around a jail within which an imprisoned debtor was, on certain conditions, allowed to go at large. Abbott. -- Jail lock, a peculiar form of padlock; -- called also Scandinavian lock.

JAIL Jail, v. t.

Defn: To imprison. [R.] T. Adams (1614). [Bolts] that jail you from free life. Tennyson.

JAILER Jail"er, n. Etym: [OE. jailer, gailer, OF. geolier, F. geôlier. See Jail.]

Defn: The keeper of a jail or prison. [Written also jailor, gaoler.]

JAIN; JAINA Jain, Jai"na, n. Etym: [Skr. Jaina, fr. Jina, a proper name, fr. jina victorious.]

Defn: One of a numerous sect in British India, holding the tenets of Jainism.

JAINISM Jain"ism, n.

Defn: The heterodox Hindoo religion, of which the most striking features are the exaltation of saints or holy mortals, called jins, above the ordinary Hindoo gods, and the denial of the divine origin and infallibility of the Vedas. It is intermediate between Brahmanism and Buddhism, having some things in common with each.

JAIROU Jai*rou", n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The ahu or Asiatic gazelle.

JAK Jak, n. (Bot.)

Defn: see Ils Jack.

JAKES Jakes, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. F. Jacques, the proper name. See 2d Jack.]

Defn: A privy. Shak.

JAKIE Ja"kie, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A South American striped frog (Pseudis paradoxa), remarkable for having a tadpole larger than the adult, and hence called also paradoxical frog.

JAKO Jak"o (jâk"o), n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An African parrot (Psittacus erithacus), very commonly kept as a cage bird; -- called also gray parrot.

JAKWOOD Jak"wood`, n.

Defn: See Jackwood.

JALAP Jal"ap, n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. jalapa; -- so called from Jalapa, a town in Mexico, whence it was first obtained.] (Med.)

Defn: The tubers of the Mexican plant Ipomoea purga (or Exogonium purga), a climber much like the morning-glory. The abstract, extract, and powder, prepared from the tubers, are well known purgative medicines. Other species of Ipomoea yield several inferior kinds of jalap, as the I. Orizabensis, and I. tuberosa. False jalap, the root of Mirabilis Jalapa, four-o'clock, or marvel of Peru.

JALAPIC Ja*lap"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to jalap.

JALAPIN Jal"a*pin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A glucoside found in the stems of the jalap plant and scammony. It is a strong purgative.

JALONS Ja`lons", n. pl. Etym: [F. Of unknown origin.] (Mil.)

Defn: Long poles, topped with wisps of straw, used as landmarks and signals. Farrow.

JALOUSIE Ja`lou`sie", n. Etym: [F. See Jealousy.]

Defn: A Venetian or slatted inside window blind.

JALOUSIED Ja`lou`sied", a.

Defn: Furnished with jalousies; as, jalousied porches.

JAM Jam, n. Etym: [Per. or Hind. jamah garment, robe.]

Defn: A kind of frock for children.

JAM Jam, n. (Mining)

Defn: See Jamb.

JAM Jam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jammed; p. pr. & vb. n. Jamming.] Etym: [Either fr. jamb, as if squeezed between jambs, or more likely from the same source as champ See Champ.]

1. To press into a close or tight position; to crowd; to squeeze; to wedge in. The . . . jammed in between two rocks. De Foe.

2. To crush or bruise; as, to jam a finger in the crack of a door. [Colloq.]

3. (Naut.)

Defn: To bring (a vessel) so close to the wind that half her upper sails are laid aback. W. C. Russell.

JAM Jam, n.

1. A mass of people or objects crowded together; also, the pressure from a crowd; a crush; as, a jam in a street; a jam of logs in a river.

2. An injury caused by jamming. [Colloq.]

JAM Jam, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. jam, v.; but cf. also Ar. jamad ice, jelly, jamid congealed, jamd congelation, ice.]

Defn: A preserve of fruit boiled with sugar and water; as, raspberry jam; currant jam; grape jam. Jam nut. See Check nut, under Check. -- Jam weld (Forging), a butt weld. See under Butt.

JAMACINA Jam`a*ci"na, n. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: Jamaicine.

JAMADAR Jam"a*dar, n.

Defn: Same as Jemidar.

JAMAICA Ja*mai"ca, n.

Defn: One of the West India is islands. Jamaica ginger, a variety of ginger, called also white ginger, prepared in Jamaica from the best roots, which are deprived of their epidermis and dried separately. -- Jamaica pepper, allspice. -- Jamaica rose (Bot.), a West Indian melastomaceous shrub (Blakea trinervis), with showy pink flowers.

JAMAICAN Ja*mai"can, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Jamaica. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Jamaica.

JAMAICINE Ja*ma"i*cine, n. Etym: [From Jamaica.] (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid said to be contained in the bark of Geoffroya inermis, a leguminous tree growing in Jamaica and Surinam; -- called also jamacina. Watts.

JAMB Jamb, n. Etym: [Prov. E. jaumb, jaum, F. jambe a leg, jambe de force a principal rafter. See Gambol.]

1. (Arch)

Defn: The vertical side of any opening, as a door or fireplace; hence, less properly, any narrow vertical surface of wall, as the of a chimney-breast or of a pier, as distinguished from its face. Gwilt.

2. (Mining)

Defn: Any thick mass of rock which prevents miners from following the lode or vein.

JAMB Jamb, v. t.

Defn: See Jam, v. t.

JAMBEE Jam*bee", n. Etym: [See Jamb, n.: cf. OF. jamboier to walk.]

Defn: A fashionable cane. [Obs.] Tatler.

JAMBES; JAMBEUX Jambes, Jam"beux, n. pl. Etym: [From F. jambe a leg: cf. OF. jambiere. See Jamb, n.] (Ancient Armor)

Defn: In the Middle Ages, armor for the legs below the knees. [Written also giambeux.] Chaucer.

JAMBOLANA Jam`bo*la"na, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. jambolao a kind of tropical fruit.] (Bot.)

Defn: A myrtaceous tree of the West Indies and tropical America (Calyptranthes Jambolana), with astringent bark, used for dyeing. It bears an edible fruit.

JAMBOOL; JAMBUL Jam"bool, Jam"bul, n. [Hind. jambu, jambul, prop., the rose-apple tree or its fruit, fr. Skr. jambu, jambu.]

Defn: The Java plum; also, a drug obtained from its bark and seeds, used as a remedy for diabetes.

JAMBOOREE Jam`boo*ree", n. [Etym. uncertain. Cf. Jambone.]

Defn: A noisy or unrestrained carousal or frolic; a spree. [Slang] Kipling.

A Calcutta-made pony cart had been standing in front of the manager's bungalow when Raja Singh started on his jamboree. W. A. Fraser.

JAMDANI Jam"da*ni, n.

Defn: A silk fabric, with a woven pattern of sprigs of flowers. [Written also jamdanee.] Balfour (Cyc. of India).

JAMESONITE Ja"me*son*ite, n. Etym: [From Prof. Jameson, of Edinburgh.] (Min.)

Defn: A steel-gray mineral, of metallic luster, commonly fibrous massive. It is a sulphide of antimony and lead, with a little iron.

JAMES'S POWDER James"'s pow`der. (Med.)

Defn: Antimonial powder, first prepared by Dr. James, ar English physician; -- called also fever powder.

JAMESTOWN WEED James"town` weed`. (Bot.)

Defn: The poisonous thorn apple or stramonium (Datura stramonium), a rank weed early noticed at Jamestown, Virginia. See Datura.

Note: This name is often corrupted into jimson, jimpson, and gympsum.

JAN Jan, n. Etym: [Ar.] (Moham. Myth.)

Defn: One of intermediate order between angels and men.

JANE Jane, n. Etym: [LL. Janua Genoa; L. Genua, also OE. Jean.]

1. A coin of Genoa; any small coin. Chaucer.

2. A kind of twilled cotton cloth. See Jean.

JANE-OF-APES Jane"-of-apes", n.

Defn: A silly, pert girl; -- corresponding to jackanapes. Massinger.

JANGLE Jan"gle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Jangled; p. pr. & vb. n. Jangling.] Etym: [OE. janglen to quarrel, OF. jangler to rail, quarrel; of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. jangelen, janken, to whimper, chide, brawl, quarrel.]

1. To sound harshly or discordantly, as bells out of tune.

2. To talk idly; to prate; to babble; to chatter; to gossip. "Thou janglest as a jay." Chaucer.

3. To quarrel in words; to altercate; to wrangle. Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles, agree. Shak. Prussian Trenck . . . jargons and jangles in an unmelodious manner. Carlyle.

JANGLE Jan"gle, v. t.

Defn: To cause to sound harshly or inharmoniously; to produce discordant sounds with. Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune, and harsh. Shak.

JANGLE Jan"gle, n. Etym: [Cf. OF.jangle.]

1. Idle talk; prate; chatter; babble. Chaucer.

2. Discordant sound; wrangling. The musical jangle of sleigh bells. Longfellow.

JANGLER Jan"gler, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. jangleor.]

1. An idle talker; a babbler; a prater. Chaucer.

2. A wrangling, noisy fellow.

JANGLERESS Jan"gler*ess, n.

Defn: A female prater or babbler.

JANGLERY Jan"gler*y, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. janglerie chattering, talk.]

Defn: Jangling. [Obs.] Chaucer.

JANGLING Jan"gling, a.

Defn: Producing discordant sounds. "A jangling noise." Milton.

JANGLING Jan"gling, n.

1. Idle babbling; vain disputation. From which some, having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling. 1 Tim. i. 6.

2. Wrangling; altercation. Lamb.

JANISSARY Jan"is*sa*ry, n.

Defn: See Janizary.

JANITOR Jan"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. janua a door.]

Defn: A door-keeper; a porter; one who has the care of a public building, or a building occupied for offices, suites of rooms, etc.

JANITRESS; JANITRIX Jan"i*tress, Jan"i*trix, n. Etym: [L. janitrix. See Janitor.]

Defn: A female janitor.

JANIZAR Jan"i*zar`, n.

Defn: A janizary. [R.] Byron.

JANIZARIAN Jan`i*za"ri*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the janizaries, or their government. Burke.

JANIZARY Jan"i*za*ry, n.; pl. Janizaries. Etym: [F. janissaire, fr. Turk. ye new soldiers or troops.]

Defn: A soldier of a privileged military class, which formed the nucleus of the Turkish infantry, but was suppressed in 1826. [written also janissary.]

JANKER Jan"ker, n.

Defn: A long pole on two wheels, used in hauling logs. [Scot.] Jamieson.

JANSENISM Jan"sen*ism, n. Etym: [F. Jansénisme.] (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: The doctrine of Jansen regarding free will and divine grace.

JANSENIST Jan"sen*ist, n. Etym: [F. Janséniste.] (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: A follower of Cornelius Jansen, a Roman Catholic bishop of Ypres, in Flanders, in the 17th century, who taught certain doctrines denying free will and the possibility of resisting divine grace.

JANT Jant, v. i.

Defn: See Jaunt.

JANTHINA Jan"thi*na, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Ianthina.

JANTILY Jan"ti*ly, adv.

Defn: See Jauntily.

JANTINESS Jan"ti*ness, n.

Defn: See Jauntiness.

JANTU Jan"tu n.

Defn: A machine of great antiquity, used in Bengal for raising water to irrigate land. Knight.

JANTY Jan"ty, a.

Defn: See Jaunty.

JANUARY Jan"u*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. Januarius, fr. Janus an old Latin deity, the god of the sun and the year, to whom the month of January was sacred; cf. janua a door, Skr. ya to go.]

Defn: The first month of the year, containing thirty-one days.

Note: Before the adoption of New Style, the commencement of the year was usually reckoned from March 25.

JANUS Ja"nus, n. Etym: [L. See January.] (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A Latin deity represented with two faces looking in opposite directions. Numa is said to have dedicated to Janus the covered passage at Rome, near the Forum, which is usually called the Temple of Janus. This passage was open in war and closed in peace. Dr. W. Smith. Janus cloth, a fabric having both sides dressed, the sides being of different colors, -- used for reversible garments.

JANUS-FACED Ja"nus-faced`, a.

Defn: Double-faced; deceitful. Janus-faced lock, one having duplicate faces so as to go upon a right or a left hand door, the key entering on either side indifferently. Knight.

JANUS-HEADED Ja"nus-head`ed, a.

Defn: Double-headed.

JAPAN Ja*pan", n. Etym: [From Japan, the country.]

Defn: Work varnished and figured in the Japanese manner; also, the varnish or lacquer used in japanning.

JAPAN Ja*pan", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Japan, or to the lacquered work of that country; as, Japan ware. Japan allspice (Bot.), a spiny shrub from Japan (Chimonanthus fragrans), related to the Carolina allspice. -- Japan black (Chem.), a quickly drying black lacquer or varnish, consisting essentially of asphaltum dissolved in naphtha or turpentine, and used for coating ironwork; -- called also Brunswick black, Japan lacquer, or simply Japan. -- Japan camphor, ordinary camphor brought from China or Japan, as distinguished from the rare variety called borneol or Borneo camphor. -- Japan clover, or Japan pea (Bot.), a cloverlike plant (Lespedeza striata) from Eastern Asia, useful for fodder, first noticed in the Southern United States about 1860, but now become very common. During the Civil War it was called variously Yankee clover and Rebel clover. -- Japan earth. See Catechu. -- Japan ink, a kind of writing ink, of a deep, glossy black when dry. -- Japan varnish, a varnish prepared from the milky juice of the Rhus vernix, a small Japanese tree related to the poison sumac.

JAPAN Ja*pan", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Japanned; p. pr. & vb. n. Japanning.]

1. To cover with a coat of hard, brilliant varnish, in the manner of the Japanese; to lacquer.

2. To give a glossy black to, as shoes. [R.] Gay.

JAPAN CURRENT Japan current.

Defn: A branch of the equatorial current of the Pacific, washing the eastern coast of Formosa and thence flowing northeastward past Japan and merging into the easterly drift of the North Pacific; -- called also Kuro-Siwo, or Black Stream, in allusion to the deep blue of its water. It is similar in may ways to the Gulf Stream.

JAPANESE Jap`a*nese", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Japan, or its inhabitants.

JAPANESE Jap`a*nese", n. sing. & pl.

1. A native or inhabitant of Japan; collectively, the people of Japan.

2. sing.

Defn: The language of the people of Japan.

JAPANNED Ja*panned", a.

Defn: Treated, or coated, with varnish in the Japanese manner. Japanned leather,leather treated with coatings of Japan varnish, and dried in a stove. Knight.

JAPANNER Ja*pan"ner, n.

1. One who varnishes in the manner of the Japanese, or one skilled in the art.

2. A bootblack. [R.]

JAPANNING Ja*pan"ning, n.

Defn: The art or act of varnishing in the Japanese manner.

JAPANNISH Ja*pan"nish, a.

Defn: After the manner of the Japanese; resembling japanned articles. Carlyle.

JAPE Jape, v. i. Etym: [Prob. from the same source as gab,influenced by F. japper to yelp. See Gab to deceive.]

Defn: To jest; to play tricks; to jeer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

JAPE Jape, v. t.

Defn: To mock; to trick. Chaucer. I have not been putting a jape upon you. Sir W. Scott. The coy giggle of the young lady to whom he has imparted his latest merry jape. W. Besant.

JAPER Jap"er, n.

Defn: A jester; a buffoon. [Obs.] Chaucer.

JAPERY Jap"er*y, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. japerie a yelping.]

Defn: Jesting; buffoonery. [Obs.] Chaucer.

JAPHETHITE Ja"pheth*ite, n.

Defn: A Japhetite. Kitto.

JAPHETIC Ja*phet"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, Japheth, one of the sons of Noah; as, Japhetic nations, the nations of Europe and Northern Asia; Japhetic languages.

JAPHETITE Ja"phet*ite, n.

Defn: A descendant of Japheth.

JAPONICA Ja*pon"i*ca, n. Etym: [NL., Japanese, fr. Japonia Japan.] (Bot.)

Defn: A species of Camellia (Camellia Japonica), a native of Japan, bearing beautiful red or white flowers. Many other genera have species of the same name.

JAPONISM Jap"o*nism, n. [F. japonisme, fr. Japon Japan.]

Defn: A quality, idiom, or peculiarity characteristic of the Japanese or their products, esp. in art.

JAR Jar, n. Etym: [See Ajar.]

Defn: A turn. [Only in phrase.] On the jar, on the turn, ajar, as a door.

JAR Jar, n. Etym: [F. jarre, Sp. jarra, from Ar. jarrah ewer; cf. Pers. jarrah.]

1. A deep, broad-mouthed vessel of earthenware or glass, for holding fruit, preserves, etc., or for ornamental purposes; as, a jar of honey; a rose jar. Dryden.

2. The measure of what is contained in a jar; as, a jar of oil; a jar of preserves. Bell jar, Leyden jar. See in the Vocabulary.

JAR Jar, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Jarred; p. pr. & vb. n. jarring.] Etym: [Cf. OE. charken to creak, AS. cearcian to gnash, F. jars a gander, L. garrire to chatter, prate, OHG. kerran to chatter, croak, G. quarren to grumble, and E. jargon, ajar.]