Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
{Jack rabbit} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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}. (Zo["o]l.) 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 {Aris[ae]ma
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}.
Source : WordNet®
yellow jack
n 1: caused by a flavivirus transmitted by a mosquito [syn: {yellow
fever}, {black vomit}]
2: yellow flag hoist on a ship in quarantine
3: fish of western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico [syn: {Caranx
bartholomaei}]