jack

plural jacks

1. A coarse medieval coat of defence, especially one made of leather.First known use 14th c.

   padded jack

   5 more examples

   jack of plate

   jack of mail

   Their horsemen are with jacks for most part clad, / Their horses are both swift of course and strong, / They run on horseback with a slender gad, / And like a speare, but that it is more long.

   1591, John Harington, translating Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, x. 73 (quoted in e.g. 1822, Robert Nares, A Glossary, page 186)

   threescore men in jacks or light coats of mail

   1766, Walter Harris, The history and antiquities of the city of Dublin

   The aketon, gambeson, vambasium, and jack were military vestments, calculated for the defence of the body, differing little from each other, except in their names, their materials and construction were nearly the same, the authorities quoted in the notes, shew they were all composed of many folds of linen, stuffed with cotton, wool or hair, quilted, and commonly covered with leather, made of buck or doe skin.

   1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 15

plural jacks

1. A man.
   1. capitalizedA name applied to a hypothetical or typical man.First known use 14th c.

      After Dinner they frisk away to some known Place of Rendezvous, where (at Night) every Jack has his Jill and every Jill has her Jack.

      1723, The New-England Courant, volume 80

   2. UScountableA man, a fellow; a typical man; men in general.First known use 16th c.

      Call you me daughter? now I promiſe you / You haue ſhewd a tender fatherly regard, / To wiſh me wed to one halfe Lunaticke, / A mad-cap ruffian, and a ſwearing Iacke, / That thinkes with oathes to face the matter out.

      c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 217, column 1

   3. colloquialA sailor.First known use 17th c.

      Synonyms: jacktar, tar

   4. slangA policeman or detective; (Australia) a military policeman.First known use 19th c.

      'I'd like you to meet DCI Henry Christie,' FB was saying. The older of the two jacks reached forward and gave Henry's right paw a quick tug.

      2013, Nick Oldham, Big City Jacks

      1 more example

      When Wardell arrived on the scene, they were surprised to find that he was unshaven, and did not look too happy. One of them remarked: "The 'Jacks' (detectives) are after you."

      1935, Bernard O'Donnell, The trials of Mr. Justice Avory, page 219

      Synonyms: jake, 5-O, alphabet, barney, beatsman, bizzie, bluebottle, bluecoat

   5. archaicA manual laborer.First known use 19th c.
   6. CanadaUScolloquialA lumberjack.First known use 20th c.
   7. IndiahistoricalslangA sepoy.

      I hope to God his theories will not unman him in action, that he will not be musing and refining when he should be leading the Jacks […]

      1855, William Delafield Arnold, Oakfield: Or, Fellowship in the East, page 280

2. A mechanical device or utensil used for lifting.
   1. A device for turning a spit; a smokejack or roasting jack.First known use 14th c.

      Our hero, among his other remarks, had obſerved, that in this place there was no ſuch utenſil as a jack, and that all the ſpits were turned by dogs, […]

      1751, [Tobias] Smollett, “They distress the housekeepers of Bath, by another mischievous contrivance. […]”, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume II, London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC, page 300

   2. Each of a series of blocks in a harpsichord or the earlier virginal, communicating the action of the key to the quill; sometime also, a hopper in a modern piano.First known use 16th c.

      [W]hat the devil makes you so dull, Letitia? I thought to have found you popping about as brisk as the jacks of your harpsichord.

      1780, Hannah Cowley, The Belle's Stratagem, I.4

      2 more examples

      Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap / To kiss the tender inward of thy hand, / Whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap, / At the wood's boldness by thee blushing stand!

      1609, Shakespeare, “Sonnet 128”, in Edward Bliss Reed, editor, Shakespeare's Sonnets, Yale University Press, published 1923, lines 1–14

      In the virginal, an upright piece of wood fixed to the key-lever and fitted with a quill which plucked the string as the jack rose when the key was pressed down. Here used as "key."

      1923, Charles Talbut Onions, “Notes”, in Edward Bliss Reed, editor, Shakespeare's Sonnets, Yale University Press, Note 128.5

   3. artsa tool used in manual production of glass objects (like bottles or wine glasses).
   4. obsoleteA support for wood being sawn; a sawhorse or sawbuck.First known use 16th–19th c.
   5. A device used to hold a boot by the heel, to assist in removing the boot.First known use 17th c.
   6. A mechanical device used to raise and (temporarily) support a heavy object, now especially to lift one side of a motor vehicle when (e.g.) changing a tyre.First known use 17th c.

      She used a jack to lift her car and changed the tire.

   7. Any of various levers for raising or lowering the sinkers which push the loops down on the needles in a knitting machine or stocking frame.First known use 18th c.
   8. archaicbusinessA wedge for separating rocks rent by blasting.First known use 19th c.
   9. obsoleteA grating device used to separate and guide the threads in a warping machine; a heck-box.First known use 19th c.
   10. obsoleteA machine for twisting the sliver as it leaves a carding machine, in the preparation of yarn.First known use 19th–20th c.
   11. businessA switch for a jack plug, a jackknife switch; (more generally) a socket used to connect a device to a circuit, network etc.First known use 19th c.

       telephone jack

       Antonyms: plug

3. A non-tool object or thing.
   1. historicalregionalA pitcher or other vessel for holding liquid, especially alcoholic drink; a black-jack.First known use 16th c.

      Dead VVine that ſtinks of the Borrachio, ſup / From a fovvl Jack, or greaſie Maple Cup?

      1693, Aulus Persius Flaccus, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus.] The Fifth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, page 69, lines 216–217

      1 more example

      He had his tea and hot rolls in a morning, while we were battening upon our quarter-of-a-penny loaf—our crug—moistened with attenuated small beer, in wooden piggings, smacking of the pitched leathern jack it was poured from.

      1823, Elia [pseudonym; Charles Lamb], Elia. Essays which have Appeared under that Signature in The London Magazine, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC

   2. card gamesThe lowest court card in a deck of standard playing cards, ranking between the 10 and queen, with an image of a knave or pageboy on it.First known use 17th c.

      Synonyms: knave

   3. obsoleteA counter used to represent money in a gambling establishment.
   4. bowlsA small, typically white, ball used as the target ball in bowls; a jack-ball.First known use 17th c.

      like an uninstructed bowler, so to speak, who thinks to attain the jack, by delivering his bowl straight forward upon it

      1822, [Walter Scott], Peveril of the Peak. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC

      Synonyms: kitty

   5. nauticalA small ship's flag used as a signal or identifying device; a small flag flown at the bow of the vessel.First known use 17th c.
   6. UKarchaichistoricalregionalA measure of liquid corresponding to a quarter of a pint.First known use 18th c.

      To a pound of sugar put a jack of water.

      1747, Hannah Glasse, The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy

   7. obsoleteslangA fake coin designed to look like a sovereign.First known use 19th c.
   8. archaichistoricalnauticalA jackcrosstree.First known use 19th c.
   9. gamesA small, six-pointed playing piece used in the game of jacks.First known use 19th c.
   10. USA torch or other light used in hunting to attract or dazzle game at night.First known use 19th c.

       a heron when seeing a deer attracted by the jack

       1930, Tappan Gregory, Deer at Night in the North Woods

   11. USslangMoney, cash.First known use 19th c.

       Angels come from everywhere with lots of jack, and when you lose it, there's no attack. Where could you get money that you don't give back? Let's go on with the show

       1946, Irving Berlin, “There's No Business Like Show Business”

       1 more example

       First off Regan carried fifteen grand, packed it in his clothes all the time. Real money, they tell me. Not just a top card and a bunch of hay. That's a lot of jack (or jack-shit) […].

       1939, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, Penguin, published 2011, page 133

   12. CanadaUSA strong alcoholic liquor, especially home-distilled or illicit.First known use 19th c.

       [A] quart of raisin jack was divided between us with the result that tha day proper (after the night before) was spent very quietly, watered and Bromo-Seltzered, with amusing anecdotes occasionally sprouting from towelled head to towelled head.

       1920, Hart Crane, letter, 14 April

   13. euphemisticslangNothing, not anything, jack shit.First known use 20th c.

       You haven't done jack. Get up and get this room cleaned up right now!

       2 more examples

       Sergeant Albrecht: Hey, c'mon, read the file! Shelly Webster, held on for 30 hours in intensive care and, her body finally just gave up. I saw it man, I couldn't do jack for her.

       1994, The Crow, spoken by Sergeant Albrecht (Ernie Hudson), Miramax

       She didn't know what he was doing on the Darvish farm, or how long he'd been there, or how long he planned to stay. She didn't even know if it was his plane. In other words, jack, Mira thought, in a spike of furious resentment against herself.

       2023, Eleanor Catton, Birnam Wood, page 72

   14. slangball gamesThe eleventh batsman to come to the crease in an innings.
   15. slangAppalachiansA smooth often ovoid large gravel or small cobble in a natural water course.
4. A plant or animal.
   1. A pike, especially when young.First known use 16th c.
   2. USA male ass, especially when kept for breeding.First known use 17th c.

      Synonyms: jackass, jack donkey

   3. Any of the marine fish in the family Carangidae.First known use 17th c.

      Synonyms: jack mackerel

   4. USA jackrabbit.First known use 19th c.

      Cottontails were taken along the creeks, under the willows. Their flesh was preferable to that of the jacks[…]"

      1932, Isabel T. Kelly, “Ethnography of the Surprise Valley Paiute”, in University of California Publications in California Archaeology an Ethnography, volume 31, number 3, page 88

   5. A bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis), a large California rockfish.
   6. white mango (Mangifera caesia). (See .)
   7. colloquialA Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema), often capitalized Jack.

      In fact, most male Jacks are under 14 inches tall. Most Jacks over 14 inches tend to be Jills.

      2013 January 6, “Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and Jill”, in Eat the Weeds

      1 more example

      Usually a jack that makes male flowers has only one main leaf (right), while female plants have two. […] The specific taxonomy of Jack-in-the Pulpit, a member of the Arum Family (Araceae), is rather up in the air. Some botanists believe all jacks are just one species, Arisaema triphyllum, while others claim there are as many as three: A. triphyllum, A. atrorubens, and A. stewardsonii.

      2003 May 1, “Is that “Jack” in the Pulpit”, in Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History

   8. colloquialSpadix of a plant (also capitalized Jack).

      Lifting the flap at the top of the spathe reveals our slender and round-headed friend "Jack," known better to botanists as the spadix.

      2003 May 1, “Is that “Jack” in the Pulpit”, in Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History

      1 more example

      On every kid’s list of favourite plants is our quirky Jack-in-the-pulpit with its green, red or purple spadices (the Jacks) and hooded green-, red- or almost black-striped spathes (the pulpits).

      2017 May 24, Stephen Westcott-Gratton, “Purple pulpits and trilliums”, in Gardenmaking

   9. apparently does not occur standalone for the genus per seAny member of species of the genus Emex, also considered synonymous to Rumex, if not then containing two species lesser jack and little jack for Emex spinosa syn. Rumex spinosus, Australian English three-corner jack and prickly jack for Emex australis syn. Rumex hypogaeus.

present singular third person jacks · participle present jacking · participle past jacked · past jacked

1. transitiveTo physically raise using a jack.

   He jacked the car so that he could replace the brake pads.

   1 more example

   Large cranes were virtually non-existent in the areas I worked with this truck, so we jacked everything on and off[.]

   2000, Bob Foster, Birdum or Bust!, Henley Beach, SA: Seaview Press, page 111

   Synonyms: jack up

2. transitiveTo raise or increase.

   If you want to jack your stats you just write off failures as invalid results.

3. To increase the potency of an alcoholic beverage similarly to distillation by chilling it to below the freezing point of water, removing the water ice crystals that form, and leaving the still-liquid alcoholic portion.

   Fruit of the orchard has been "jacked" these many generations, with Plymouth Rockers putting the hard cider barrel down into the ground to freeze, and […]

   1941, Esquire, volume 15, numbers 1-3, page 176

   1 more example

   The potency of a jacked beverage depends on the temperature applied to the original beverage; the colder the liquor, the more water can be frozen out […]. In New England, where this technique was historically used, people could get applejack to around 30 percent alcohol […].

   2010, Scott Mansfield, Strong Waters: A Simple Guide to Making Beer, Wine, Cider ..., →ISBN

4. colloquialtransitiveTo steal (something), typically an automobile; to rob (someone).

   Someone jacked my car last night!

   2 more examples

   A kid in a M3's getting jacked right in front of me

   1993, “Just Another Day”, in Black Reign, performed by Queen Latifah

   Now I'm in a new whip counting the big stack / Yellow-gold chain and the diamonds are black / Jack me? Nah, you don't wanna do that

   2014, Skepta, Jme, “That's Not Me” (track 10), in Konnichiwa, performed by Skepta featuring Jme

5. intransitiveTo dance by moving the torso forward and backward in a rippling motion.
6. colloquialvulgarTo jack off, to masturbate.

   I don't even care about mine, I can get my shit off while jacking in the shower.

   2017, Diamond Johnson, Finding My Way Back to Love 2, Sullivan Group Publishing, →ISBN

7. Memphis African-American slangTo fight.
8. informalintransitivetransitiveTo jerk or move by jerking; to remove or move (something).

comparative more jack · superlative most jack

1. AustraliaTired, disillusioned; fed up (with).First known use 19th c.

   In the end, black and white were both crawling on the ground in reconciliation. Both saying that they were plain jack of each other.

   2006, Alexis Wright, Carpentaria, Giramondo, published 2012, page 78

plural jacks · alternative jak

1. A jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus, syn. Artocarpus integrifolia).First known use 16th c.

   A mock living burial of the principal performer, who is placed in a pit, which is covered with planks, on the top of which a sacrifice is performed, with a fire kindled with jack wood (Artocarpus integrifolia) and a plant called erinna.

   1909, Edgur Thurston, Castes and Tribes of Southern India, page 437

plural jacks

1. White mango (Mangifera caesia) of fruit-bearing plants.

plural jacks

1. slangball gamesA home run.

   The year before ('76) Kingman had 37 jacks with only 502 PAs. Is that the limit?

   2001 October 8, Ray Dames, “Re: McGwire's Year”, in rec.sport.baseball (Usenet)

   2 more examples

   Me three. I never have quite understood all the "three true outcomes" fetish around here. I mean, I know that building an offense around walks and 3-run jacks embodies the Sabermetric Virtues, and especially in today's conditions that's the way to win, but man, it sure leads to some slow, boring games.

   2002 April 18, Perry, “Re: To all you Oakland A's fans...”, in rec.sport.baseball (Usenet)

   3-run jacks are just another tool in a team's chest. The goal is to make the playoffs, then win at least one more game than your opponent each round. And repeat next year, and the year after that, and...

   2004 January 18, Terrell Miller, “Re: Does playing for the 3-run home run really help you win championships?”, in rec.sport.baseball (Usenet)

present singular third person jacks · participle present jacking · participle past jacked · past jacked

1. slangtransitiveball gamesTo hit (the ball) hard; especially, to hit (the ball) out of the field, producing a home run.

   Maybe he hung a curve ball to somebody and they jacked it out of the park on him and he wasn’t upset about it.

   a. 2009, Jim McManus, quoted in T.J. Lewis, A View from the Mound: My Father’s Life in Baseball, Lulu.com (publisher, 2008), page 107

   2 more examples

   An excellent piece of work, Wayne thought, so good in fact, he wasn’t surprised when Bailey walked to the plate and on the first pitch jacked the ball far into the parking lot outside the left-field fence for a tournament winning homerun.

   1986, Arete: The Journal of Sport Literature, volume 4, Sport Literature Association

   Therefore, even though Vizquel is certainly not a power hitter, at times he will try to jack the ball, perhaps pulling it with just enough oomph to carry down the line for a homer.

   2004, Wayne Stewart, Hitting Secrets of the Pros: Big League Sluggers Reveal the Tricks of Their Trade, McGraw-Hill Professional, →ISBN, page 90

plural Jacks

1. countableuncountableA unisex given name derived from a pet form of the name John. Occasionally a diminutive of other given names such as Jackson, Jacob, Jacqueline or Jonathan.

   Since every Jack became a gentleman there's many a gentle person made a Jack.

   c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

   3 more examples

   Heere comes leane Iacke, heere comes bare-bone. How now my ſweet Creature of Bombaſt, how long is't agoe, Iacke, ſince thou ſaw'ſt thine owne Knee?

   c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, with the Life and Death of Henry, Sirnamed Hot-spvrre”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies, London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, act II, scene iv, page 58, column 1

   JACK. Well, really, Gwendolen, I must say that I think that there are lots of other much nicer names. I think Jack, for instance, a charming name. GWENDOLEN. Jack?...No, there is very little music in the name Jack, if any at all, indeed. It does not thrill. It produces absolutely no vibrations...I have known several Jacks, and they all, without exception, were more than usually plain. Besides, Jack is a notorious domesticity for John!

   1895, Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest […] , [Act I]

   Chief Judge Jack Tuter, who oversees the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Fort Lauderdale, released a statement over the weekend berating Ehrlich for her conduct.

   2018 April 23, Chuck Johnston, “Judge not allowed back to court after berating woman who died”, in CNN, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2025

2. countableuncountableA surname.

   Aberdeen have confirmed, external Ash Taylor and Lawrence Shankland will follow Ryan Jack, Niall McGinn and Peter Pawlett in leaving the club this summer.

   2017 May 31, “Aberdeen: Ash Taylor & Lawrence Shankland join players leaving Pittodrie”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 24 May 2021, retrieved 02 Sep 2026

3. colloquialcountableuncountableJack Daniel's, a brand of Tennessee whiskey.

   Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack.

   2009, “Tik Tok”, performed by Ke$ha (Kesha Rose Sebert)

   1 more example

   Got a boy back home in Michigan / And it tastes like Jack when I'm kissing him / So I told him that I never really liked his friends / Now he's gone and he's calling me a bitch again

   2017, Halsey, Ricky Reed, Justin Tranter, Rogét Chahayed, “Bad at Love”, in Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, performed by Halsey

4. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Coffee County, Alabama, United States.
5. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Dent County, Missouri, United States.
6. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountableEllipsis of Monterey Jack, a type of cheese.

plural Jacks

1. informalA placeholder or conventional name for any man, particularly a younger, lower-class man.

   Well, if you ever plan to motor west / Jack, take my way, it's the highway that's the best / Get your kicks on Route 66

   1946 April 22, Bobby Troup, “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66”, in New Juke Box Hits, performed by Chuck Berry, published March 1961, side 2, track 2

2. abbreviationarchaicellipsisinformalEllipsis of Jack Tar, a sailor.

   When he went home on leave he rioted on a large scale—pompously. Jack ashore—with a difference—in externals only.

   1899, Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, section 1

3. abbreviationarchaicellipsisinformalEllipsis of Jack Rum, a soldier.
4. A jacqueminot rose.