J-JACCHUS.

J, the tenth letter of the English alphabet, has been added to it in modern days, the letter I being formerly used in words where J is now written. It seems to have had the sound of y in many words, as it still has in the German. The English sound of this letter may be expressed dzh, or edzh, a compound sound coinciding exactly with that of g in genius.

JABBER, jabʼbur, v. n. (gabberen, Dan. jaboter, Fr.) To talk rapidly or indistinctly; to chatter; to prate;-8. rapid or confused talk.

JABBERER, jab'bur-ur, s. One who talks inarticulately or unintelligibly.

JABBERMENT, jab'bur-ment, s. Idle prate.-Obsolete.

JABOROSA, ja-bo-ro'sa, s. (jaberose, the Arabic name of the mandrake, to which the genus is allied.) A genus of herbaceous plants with white flowers, natives of Chili and Buenos Ayres: Order, Solanaceæ. JABOTICABURAS, ja-bot-e-kab'u-rus, s. Brazil JABUTICABA, ja-bu-te-ka'ba, Snames of

the plant Eugenia cauliflora, the fruit of which is highly agreeable.

JACAMAR, jak'a-mar, s. The French name for a genus of birds allied to the Kingfisher.-See Galbula.

JACAMEROPS, jak-a-me'rops, s. A genus of birds

allied to the Jacamar.

JACARANDA, ja-ka-ran'da, s. (the name of one of the species in Brazil.) A genus of plants, consisting of trees-natives of South America-with the habit of the fine-leaved species of Acacia, and having showy yellow, blue, or violaceous flowers: Order, Bignoniaceæ.

JACA-TREE, jak'a-tre, s. The tree Artocarpus integrifolia, one of the bread-fruit trees, a native of the East Indies.

JACCHUS, jak'kus, s. (iacho, I cry aloud, Gr.) A

VOL. IL.

A

JACENT-JACK.

genus of South American monkies, having thumbs only on the hind feet; all the digits of the fore feet are in the same direction, and are armed with narrow curled claw-like nails.

JACENT, ja'sent, a. (jacens, Lat.) Lying at length. JACK, jak, s. A nickname or diminutive of John,

used as a general term of contempt for any saucy or paltry fellow; the name of an instrument which supplies the place of a boy; an instrument to pull off boots; a young pike. In Mechanics, an instrument for raising great weights, of which there are several kinds. The common kitchen jack is a compound machine, in which weight is applied as a power to overcome the friction of the parts and of the weight with which the spit is charged, and a steady and uniform motion is obtained by means of a fly-wheel;-(xaco, xaqueta, Span.) a coat of mail; a pitcher of waxed leather;

Small jacks we have in many alehouses of the city and suburbs, tipt with silver.-Heywood.

a small bowl thrown out for a mark to the bowlers; part of a musical instrument called a virginal; the male of certain animals, as of the ass; a wooden frame on which timber is sawed. In a ship, a flag, ensign, or colours displayed from a staff at the end of a bowsprit. In Mining, a wooden wedge used to split the rocks asunder after blasting. Jack timbers, in Architecture, those in a row of timbers which, being intercepted by other pieces, are shorter than the rest. Jack at all trades, a person who can turn his hand to any kind of business. Jack, or sawyer's jack, an engine of the saw kind, much used about guns and mortars, and always carried with the artillery. Jack in the box, a large wooden male screw turning in a female one, which forms the upper part of a strong wooden box, shaped like the frustrum of a pyramid. It is used by means of levers passing through holes in it, as in a packing-press, and for other purposes. In Botany, a name given to the plants of the genus Hernandia, from the

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JACK-A-DANDY-JACKPUDDING.

noise which the kernel of the nut makes when shaken with the wind. Jack of the bread-room, among seamen, an assistant to the purser or ship's steward. Jack block, a block occasionally attached to the topgallant-tie, and through which the topgallant top-rope is reeved to sway up or to strike the yard. Jack plane, a plane of about eighteen inches long to prepare wood for the trying plane. Jack rafters, in Joinery, the jack timbers which are fastened to the high rafters and the wall-plates. Jack ribs, in Joinery, the jack timbers which are fastened to the angle ribs, and rest upon the wall-plates in groined or domed arches. Jacksaw, one of the provincial names for the Dundiver, a species of aquatic bird. Jack timber, in Joinery, a short timber fastened at the ends of two timbers which are not parallel, or to two timbers which actually meet in a point, as to the wall-plate and hip rafter of a roof, the wallplate and hip of a groin, &c. Jack of helhon, a vulgar name for an aolipile. Jack by the hedge, or sause along, the common name of the plants of the genus Allaria. Jack with a lantern, an ignis fatuus, a meteor that appears in low moist lands. Jack of the clock house, a little man that strikes the quarters in a clock.

Is this your Jack o' the clock house ?—
Will you strike, sir ?—Beau. & Fiet,

JACK-A-DANDY, jak-a-dan'de, s. A little imper

tinent fellow.

JACKAL, jak'awl, s. (tschakkl, Ar. chacal, Fr.) The Canis aureus of Linnæus, a wild species of the canine tribe which hunt in packs. They rarely attack the larger quadrupeds, but are supposed to indicate their presence by the piercing cries which they set up in chorus while scenting their tracks. They feed on the remnants of the lion's prey, on dead carcases, and on the smaller animals and poultry. It is known also by the name of the lion's provider-a name which may have arisen from the notion that the yell of the pack gives notice to the lion that prey is on foot. Jackals' kost, or kauimp, the plant Hydnora Africana, which smells like roast-beef when roasted, and is eaten by the African savages.

JACKALENT, jak'a-lent, s. A sort of puppet; a sheepish fellow.

JACKANAPES, jak'an-ayps, s. A monkey; an ape; a coxcomb; an impertinent fellow.

JACKASS, jak'as, s.

The male of an ass.

JACOBEA LILY, ja-ko-be'a lil'e, s. The Amaryllis formosissima, a native of North America. JACOBIN, jak'o-bin, s. (so called from the place of meeting, which was the monastery of the monks named Jacobines.) One of a revolutionary faction which took a prominent and violent lead in the French Revolution. The Jacobins in France held secret meetings in which measures were concerted to direct the proceedings of the National Assembly-hence the name is frequently given to a person who secretly and unlawfully concocts schemes of a violent character, with a view to influence or overthrow the government. JACOBIN, jak'o-bin, JACOBINICAL, jak-o-bin'e-kal,

France; turbulent.

a. Resembling the Jacobins of

JACOBITE, jak'o-bite, s. In English history, one who asserted the rights of King James and his family, disavowing the Revolution of 1688, and vindicating the doctrines of passive obedience, and non-resistance with respect to the arbitrary proceedings of princes. In Ecclesiastical history, the Jacobites formed a sect of Christians in Syria and Mesopotamia, and were so called either from Jacob, a Syrian, or one Jacob, a monk, who flourished in the year 550; they held that Jesus Christ had only one nature, and likewise that confession was not of divine institution. JACOBITISM, jak'o-bit-ism, s. the partisans of James II.

The principles of

In a ship, a rope-ladder with wooden steps. In Masonic Heraldry, a ladder with three steps representing faith, hope, and charity. In Botany, one of the names of the Greek Valerian Polemonium cœruleum: Order, Polemoniaceæ. JACOB'S-STAFF, jaʼkobz-staf, s. A pilgrim's staff; a staff concealing a dagger; a cross staff; a kind of astrolabe.

JACOBUS, ja-ko'bus, s. A gold coin, value twentyfive shillings sterling, struck in the reign of James I. JACONET, jak'o-net, s. not so fine as lawn.

A kind of coarse muslin

JACQUARD LOOM, jak'ård loom, s. A peculiar and ingenious mechanism invented by M. Jacquard of Lyons, in 1800, for the purpose of superseding the use of draw-boys in weaving figured goods. JACQUEMONTIA, jak-mon'she-a, s. (in honour of Victor Jacquemont.) A genus of South American