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An American Dictionary of the English Language

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

  1. Jäck'-blöck, n.p. 722A block used in sending top-gallant-masts up and down. R. H. Dana.
  2. Jăck'-bōōts, n. pl.p. 722Large boots reaching above the knee, and serving to protect the leg.
  3. Jäck'-cröss'-tree, n.p. 722(Naut.) An iron cross-tree at the head of a long top-gallant-mast.
  4. Jăck'daw, n.p. 722(Ornith.) A bird (Corvus monedula), allied to the crows, of which it is the smallest example. It is of a black color, with a blue or metallic reflection. It builds its nest on old walls, steeples…
  5. Jăck'et, n.p. 722A short, close garment, extending downward to the hips; a short coat.
  6. Jăck'et-ed, a.p. 722Wearing, or furnished with, a jacket.
  7. Jăck'-flăg, n.p. 722A flag hoisted at the spritsail top-mast-head.
  8. Jăck'-fruit, n.p. 722The fruit of the jack. See JACK.
  9. Jăck'-ketch, n.p. 722A 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…
  10. Jăck'knife, n.p. 722A large, strong clasp-knife for the pocket.
  11. Jăck'-man, n.p. 722One wearing a jack; a horse-soldier; a retainer. See JACK, No. 4. It is Christie of the Clinthill, the laird’s chief jack-man. W. Scott. 2. A cream-cheese. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. 3. One who made…
  12. Jăck'-plāne, n.p. 722A plane about eighteen inches long, used by joiners for coarse work. Gwilt.
  13. Jăck'-pud'ding, n.p. 722A merry-andrew; a buffoon; a zany. Gay.
  14. Jăck'-răft'er, n.p. 722(Arch.) A short rafter, used especially in hip-roofs. Gwilt.
  15. Jăck'-sauce, n.p. 722A saucy fellow.
  16. Jăck'saw, n.p. 722(Ornith.) A kind of bird; the merganser.
  17. Jäck'-screw, n.p. 722A portable machine for raising heavy weights through a small distance. [See Illust. of Jack.]
  18. Jäck'-släve, n.p. 722A low servant, or vulgar fellow. Shak.
  19. Jăck'-smith, n.p. 722A smith who makes jacks for a chimney.
  20. Jăck'snīpe, n.p. 722(Ornith.) A small species of snipe; —called also judcock, q. v.
  21. Jăck'-stăff, n.p. 722(Naut.) A staff fixed on the bow-sprit-cap of a ship upon which the Union Jack is hoisted. Simmonds.
  22. Jăck'-stāys, n. pl.p. 723(Naut.) Ropes or strips of wood or iron stretching along the yards of a ship to bind the sails to. Simmonds.
  23. Jăck'-straw, n.p. 723A low, servile fellow. Milton. 2. The black-cap, or black-cap warbler. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. 3. One of a set of straws or strips of ivory, bone, &c., for playing a child's game, the jack-straws…
  24. Jăck'-tīm'ber, n.p. 723(Arch.) A timber in a bay which is shorter than the rest on account of its being intercepted by others.
  25. Jāck'-tow'el, n.p. 723A long, endless towel placed upon a roller.
  26. Jăck'-wood, n.p. 723The wood of the jack-tree. See JACK. [Written also jack-wood.]
  27. Jāʹco-bīn, n.p. 723(Hist.) One of a society of violent revolutionists in France, during the revolution of 1789, who held secret meetings, in which measures were concerted to direct the proceedings of the National…
  28. Jăc'o-bīn, a.p. 723The same as JACOBINICAL.
  29. Jăc'o-bīne, n.p. 723A monk of the order of Dominicans; a Dominican friar. 2. A pigeon with a high tuft.
  30. Jăc'o-bīn'ic or Jăc'o-bīn'ic-al, a.p. 723Resembling, or pertaining to, the Jacobins of France; discontented with government; holding revolutionary principles.
  31. Jăc'o-bīn'ĭc-al-ly, adv.p. 723In a manner resembling the Jacobins.
  32. Jăc'o-bīn-ĭsm, n.p. 723The principles of the Jacobins; violent and factious opposition to legitimate government.
  33. Jăc'o-bin-īze, v. t.p. 723To taint with Jacobinism.
  34. Jăc'o-bīn-ly, adv.p. 723In the manner of Jacobins.
  35. Jăc'o-bīte, n.p. 723(Eng. Hist.) A partisan or adherent of James the Second, after he abdicated the throne, and of his descendants; an opposer of the revolution in 1688 in favor of William and Mary. 2. (Eccl. Hist.) One…
  36. Jāc'o-bīte, a.p. 723Pertaining to the partisans of James the Second, of England.
  37. Jāc'o-bīt'īc or Jāc'o-bīt'īc-al, a.p. 723Belonging to the Jacobites.
  38. Jā'co-bīt'ic-al-ly, adv.p. 723After the manner of a Jacobite.
  39. Jā'co-bit-īsm, n.p. 723The principles of the adherents of James the Second. Mason.
  40. Jā'cob's-lād'der, n.p. 723(Bot.) A plant of the genus Polemonium (P. cæruleum), having numerous flowers of a blue or white color, somewhat drooping. P. reptans is common in the United States, and has blue flowers. Gray. 2.…
  41. Jā'cob's-stāff', n.p. 723A pilgrim's staff. 2. A staff concealing a dagger. 3. A cross-staff; a kind of astrolabe.
  42. Ja-cō'bus, n.p. 723An English gold coin, of the value of twenty-five shillings sterling, struck in the reign of James the First.
  43. Jăc'o-nēt, n.p. 723A thin cotton fabric, between cambric and muslin, used for dresses, neck-cloths, and the like. [Written also jaconet.]
  44. Jac-quärd’, a.p. 723Pertaining to, or invented by, Jacquard, a French mechanician. Jacquard arrangement, or appendage, a contrivance appended to a loom for weaving figured goods, as of silk or cotton, and also for…
  45. Jacquerie, n.p. 723An insurrection of peasants; — originally the name given to a revolt of the peasants against the nobles in Picardy, France, A. D. 1358, either from Jacques Carlot, one of the leaders, or from an…
  46. Jăc'tan-cy, n.p. 723A boasting. [Obs.] Cockeram.
  47. Jac-tā'tion, n.p. 723A throwing or tossing to and fro; a violent or frequent motion; jaculation. Sir W. Temple. 2. Vain boasting; bragging.
  48. Jăc'ti-tā'tion, n.p. 723A frequent tossing or moving of the body; restlessness. Harvey. 2. Vain boasting; vaunting.
  49. Jactitation of marriagep. 723a 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.
  50. Jăc'ū-la-ble, a.p. 723Fit for throwing. [Obs.] Blount.
  51. Jăc′ū-lāte, v. t.p. 723To throw like a dart; to throw out; to emit. His images are singularly commonplace, and you wonder how they move you so, till you resolve this into the power of the hand which jaculates its own…
  52. Jăc'ū-lā'tion, n.p. 723The action of darting, throwing, or launching, as missive weapons. Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire. Milton.
  53. Jăc'ū-lā'tor, n.p. 723One who jaculates. 2. (Ichth.) The shooting-fish, a species of Chætodon, found in hot climates. It feeds on insects, which it procures by shooting or ejecting a drop of water through its tubular…
  54. Jăc'ŭ-la-to-ry, a.p. 723Darting or throwing out suddenly, or suddenly thrown out; uttered in short sentences; ejaculatory.
  55. Jāde, n.p. 723(Min.) A stone of a dark-green color, hard and compact, capable of a fine polish, and used for ornamental purposes. Dana.
  56. Jāde, n.p. 723A mean or poor horse; a tired horse; a worthless nag. Tired as a jade in overladen cart. Sidney. 2. A mean woman; a wench; a quean;—used familiarly or in contempt. She shines the first of battered…
  57. Jāde, v. t.p. 723To reduce to the condition of a jade; to tire out; to fatigue;—said of a horse. The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia We have jaded out of the field. Shak. 2. To exhaust by excessive labor of any…
  58. Jāde, v. i.p. 723To become weary; to lose spirit; to sink. They are promising in the beginning, but they fail, and jade, and tire in the prosecution. South.
  59. Jād'er-y, n.p. 723The tricks of a jade. Beau. & Fl.
  60. Jād'ish, a.p. 723Vicious; bad; like a jade;—applied to a horse. 2. Unchaste;—applied to a woman. L'Estrange.