\ ˈjak
\
1a
jacks plural in form but singular in construction
: a game played with a set of small objects that are tossed, caught, and moved in various figures
b
: a small 6-pointed metal object used in the game of jacks
2a
: a playing card carrying the figure of a soldier or servant and ranking usually below the queen
3
: any of various usually mechanical devices: such as
a
: a usually portable mechanism or device for exerting pressure or lifting a heavy body a short distance
b
: a device for turning a spit
4
: a female fitting in an electric circuit used with a plug to make a connection with another circuit
5a
: man
—usually used as an intensive in such phrases as every man jack
6
: something that supports or holds in position: such 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
7a
: any of several fishes
especially
: any of various carangids
b
: a male donkey
d
: any of several birds (such as a jackdaw)
8a
: a small white target ball in lawn bowling
b
: a small national flag flown by a ship
13
US slang
: anything at all
—used in negative constructions In short, Dinger or Homer or whoever it was who wrote the Odyssey didn't know jack about travel.— Steve Rushin
transitive verb
1a
: to move or lift by or as if by a jack
b
: to raise the level of
—usually used with up jack up the price
c
: to take to task
2
: to hunt or fish for at night with a jacklight
