jack

jack · noun¹

1. Middle French · derived fromjaque
2. Anglo-Norman · derived fromjacke
3. Middle English · inherited fromjakke
4. English todayjack

Inherited from Middle English jakke, from Anglo-Norman jacke, Middle French jaque, jacque, from jacques (“peasant”), from the proper name Jacques. Compare jacquerie.

jack · noun, verb, adjective²

Transferred use of the personal name Jack. (cricket: eleventh batsman): An allusion to the jack in playing cards, which follows the 10.

jack · noun³

1. Malayalam · derived fromചക്ക
2. Portuguese · borrowed fromjaca“jackfruit”
3. English todayjack

From Portuguese jaca (“jackfruit”), from Malayalam ചക്ക (cakka).

jack · noun⁴

Named after Scottish botanist William Jack, who described the species.

Jack · proper noun, noun⁵

1. Biblical Hebrewעָקַב
2. Biblical Hebrewיַעֲקֹב (yaʿăqōḇ)
3. Ancient GreekἸακώβ (Iakṓb)
4. Ancient GreekἸάκωβος (Iákōbos)
5. LatinIācōbusslbor.?
6. FrenchJacques
7. Middle EnglishJackin
8. English todayJack

From Middle English Jak, Jakke (also Jackin, Jankyn, etc.), from Anglo-Norman Jakke, *Janke, from Middle Dutch Janke, diminutive of Jan (“John”); equivalent to John + -kin. Doublet of Yankee. It can be also used as nickname for Jacob. Though the name was originally a pet form, it has become more of an independent name. See also Middle French Hennequin, Jannequin, Middle Dutch Janneken, English Jake and Jacques.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. A coarse medieval coat of defence, especially one made of leather.
• from 14th c. A name applied to a hypothetical or typical man.
• from 16th c. A man, a fellow; a typical man; men in general.
• from 17th c. A sailor.
• from 19th c. A policeman or detective; (Australia) a military policeman.
• from 19th c. A manual laborer.
• from 20th c. A lumberjack.
• from 14th c. A device for turning a spit; a smokejack or roasting jack.