Etymology: Middle English Jacke, familiar term of address to a social inferior, nickname for Johan John
Date: 1548
1 a:man —usually used as an intensive in such phrases as every man jackboften capitalized:sailorc (1):servant, laborer(2):lumberjack 2: any of various usually mechanical devices: as a: a device for turning a spit b: a usually portable mechanism or device for exerting pressure or lifting a heavy body a short distance 3: something that supports or holds in position: as a: an iron bar at a topgallant masthead to support a royal mast and spread the royal shrouds b: a wooden brace fastened behind a scenic unit in a stage set to prop it up 4 a: any of several fishes; especially: any of various carangids b: a male donkey c:jackrabbitd: any of several birds (as a jackdaw) 5 a: a small white target ball in lawn bowling b: a small national flag flown by a ship c (1)plural but sing in constr: a game played with a set of small objects that are tossed, caught, and moved in various figures (2): a small 6-pointed metal object used in the game of jacks 6 a: a playing card carrying the figure of a soldier or servant and ranking usually below the queen b:jackpot 1a(2) 7slang:money 8: a female fitting in an electric circuit used with a plug to make a connection with another circuit 9 a:applejackb:brandy 10:jackknife 2 11:monterey jack