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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)


A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
You are here: Webster > Letter J > Page 9 of 18.
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Jettison Jet"ti·son noun [ See Jetsam .]

1. (Mar. Law) The throwing overboard of goods from necessity, in order to lighten a vessel in danger of wreck.

2. See Jetsam , 1.

Jetton Jet"ton noun [ French jeton .] A metal counter used in playing cards.

Jetty Jet"ty adjective Made of jet, or like jet in color.

The people . . . are of a jetty .
Sir T. Browne.

Jetty Jet"ty noun ; plural Jetties . [ French jetée a pier, a jetty, a causeway. See Jet a shooting forth, and confer Jutty .]

1. (Architecture) A part of a building that jets or projects beyond the rest, and overhangs the wall below.

2. A wharf or pier extending from the shore.

3. (Hydraul. Engin.) A structure of wood or stone extended into the sea to influence the current or tide, or to protect a harbor; a mole; as, the Eads system of jetties at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Jetty head (Nautical) , a projecting part at the end of a wharf; the front of a wharf whose side forms one of the cheeks of a dock.

Jetty Jet"ty intransitive verb To jut out; to project. [ Obsolete] Florio.

Jeu d'esprit Jeu" d'es`prit" [ French, play of mind.] A witticism.

Jeunesse dorée Jeu`nesse" do`rée" [ French] Lit., gilded youth; young people of wealth and fashion, esp. if given to prodigal living; -- in the French Revolution, applied to young men of the upper classes who aided in suppressing the Jacobins after the Reign of Terror.

Jew Jew noun [ Old French Juis , plural, French Juif , Latin Judaeus , Greek ..., from ... the country of the Jews, Judea, from Hebrew Y...h...dāh Judah, son of Jacob. Confer Judaic .] Originally, one belonging to the tribe or kingdom of Judah; after the return from the Babylonish captivity, any member of the new state; a Hebrew; an Israelite.

Jew's frankincense , gum styrax, or benzoin. -- Jew's mallow (Botany) , an annual herb ( Corchorus olitorius ) cultivated in Syria and Egypt as a pot herb, and in India for its fiber. -- Jew's pitch , asphaltum; bitumen. -- The Wandering Jew , an imaginary personage, who, for his cruelty to the Savior during his passion, is doomed to wander on the earth till Christ's second coming.

Jew's-ear Jew's"-ear` noun (Botany) A species of fungus ( Hirneola Auricula-Judæ, or Auricula ), bearing some resemblance to the human ear.

Jew's-harp Jew's-harp` noun [ Jew + harp ; or possibly a corrupt. of jaw's harp ; confer German maultrommel , lit., mouthdrum.] 1. An instrument of music, which, when placed between the teeth, gives, by means of a bent metal tongue struck by the finger, a sound which is modulated by the breath; -- called also Jew's-trump .

2. (Nautical) The shackle for joining a chain cable to an anchor.

Jew's-stone, Jewstone Jew's-stone`, Jew"stone` noun (Paleon.) A large clavate spine of a fossil sea urchin.

Jewbush Jew"bush` noun (Botany) A euphorbiaceous shrub of the genus Pedilanthus ( P. tithymaloides ), found in the West Indies, and possessing powerful emetic and drastic qualities.

Jewel Jew"el (jū"ĕl or ju"ĕl) noun [ Middle English juel , jowel , Old French jouel , juel , joiel , French joyau , dim. of Old French joie joy, jewel, F. joie joy. See Joy .]

1. An ornament of dress usually made of a precious metal, and having enamel or precious stones as a part of its design.

Plate of rare device, and jewels
Of rich and exquisite form.
Shak.

2. A precious stone; a gem. Shak.

3. An object regarded with special affection; a precious thing. "Our prince ( jewel of children)." Shak.

4. A bearing for a pivot a pivot in a watch, formed of a crystal or precious stone, as a ruby.

Jewel block (Nautical) , block at the extremity of a yard, through which the halyard of a studding sail is rove.

Jewel Jew"el transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Jeweled , or Jewelled ; present participle & verbal noun Jeweling , or Jewelling .] To dress, adorn, deck, or supply with jewels, as a dress, a sword hilt, or a watch; to bespangle, as with jewels.

The long gray tufts . . . are jeweled thick with dew.
M. Arnold.

Jeweler Jew"el·er noun [ Confer French joaillier .] One who makes, or deals in, jewels, precious stones, and similar ornaments. [ Written also jeweller .]

Jeweler's gold . See under Gold .

Jewellery Jew"el·ler·y noun See Jewelry . Burke.

Jewelry Jew"el·ry noun [ Confer French joaillerie .]

1. The art or trade of a jeweler. Cotgrave.

2. Jewels, collectively; as, a bride's jewelry .

Jewelweed Jew"el·weed` noun (Botany) See Impatiens .

Jewess Jew"ess noun , fem. of Jew . A Hebrew woman.

Jewfish Jew"fish` noun (Zoology)

1. A very large serranoid fish ( Promicrops itaiara ) of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. It often reaches the weight of five hundred pounds. Its color is olivaceous or yellowish, with numerous brown spots. Called also guasa , and warsaw .

2. A similar gigantic fish ( Stereolepis gigas ) of Southern California, valued as a food fish.

3. The black grouper of Florida and Texas.

4. A large herringlike fish; the tarpum.

Jewise Jew·ise" noun Same as Juise . [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Jewish Jew"ish adjective Of or pertaining to the Jews or Hebrews; characteristic of or resembling the Jews or their customs; Israelitish. -- Jew"ish*ly , adverb -- Jew"ish*ness , noun

Jewry Jew"ry noun [ Middle English Jewerie , Old French Juierie , French Juiverie .] Judea; also, a district inhabited by Jews; a Jews' quarter. Chaucer.

Teaching throughout all Jewry .
Luke xxiii. 5.

Jezebel Jez"e·bel noun [ From Jezebel , Hebrew Izebel , the wife of Ahab king of Israel.] A bold, vicious woman; a termagant. Spectator.

Jharal Jha"ral noun [ Native name.] (Zoology) A wild goat ( Capra Jemlaica ) which inhabits the loftiest mountains of India. It has long, coarse hair, forming a thick mane on its head and neck.

Jib Jib noun [ Named from its shifting from side to side. See Jib , intransitive verb ., Jibe .]

1. (Nautical) A triangular sail set upon a stay or halyard extending from the foremast or fore-topmast to the bowsprit or the jib boom. Large vessels often carry several jibs; as, inner jib ; outer jib ; flying jib ; etc.

2. (Machinery) The projecting arm of a crane, from which the load is suspended.

Jib boom (Nautical) , a spar or boom which serves as an extension of the bowsprit. It is sometimes extended by another spar called the flying jib boom . [ Written also gib boom .] -- Jib crane (Machinery) , a crane having a horizontal jib on which a trolley moves, bearing the load. -- Jib door (Architecture) , a door made flush with the wall, without dressings or moldings; a disguised door. -- Jib header (Nautical) , a gaff-topsail, shaped like a jib; a jib-headed topsail. -- Jib topsail (Nautical) , a small jib set above and outside of all the other jibs. -- The cut of one's jib , one's outward appearance. [ Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.

Jib Jib intransitive verb [ Connected with jibe ; confer Old French giber to shake.] To move restively backward or sidewise, -- said of a horse; to balk. [ Written also jibb .] [ Eng.]

Jib Jib noun 1. One that jibs, or balks; a jibber.

2. A stationary condition; a standstill.

Jib Jib transitive verb & i. [ imperfect & past participle Jibbed ; present participle & verbal noun Jibbing .] Also Jibb [ Confer Jib a sail, Gybe .] (Chiefly Naut.) To shift, or swing round, as a sail, boom, yard, etc., as in tacking.

Jibber Jib"ber noun A horse that jibs. [ Eng.]

Jibe Jibe (jīb) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Jibed (jībd); present participle & verbal noun Jibing (jīb"ĭng).] [ Confer Danish gibbe , Dutch gijpen , intransitive verb , and dial. Swedish gippa to jerk. Confer Jib , noun & intransitive verb ] (Nautical) To shift, as the boom of a fore-and-aft sail, from one side of a vessel to the other when the wind is aft or on the quarter. See Gybe .

Jibe Jibe intransitive verb 1. (Nautical) To change a ship's course so as to cause a shifting of the boom. See Jibe , transitive verb , and Gybe .

2. To agree; to harmonize. [ Colloq.] Bartlett.

Jiffy Jif"fy noun [ Perh. corrupt. from gliff .] [ Written also giffy .] A moment; an instant; as, I will be ready in a jiffy . [ Colloq.] J. & H. Smith.

Jig Jig noun [ Old French gigue a stringed instrument, a kind of dance, French gigue dance, tune, gig; of German origin; confer Middle High German gīge fiddle, German geige . Confer Gig a fiddle, Gig a whirligig.]

1. (Mus.) A light, brisk musical movement.

Hot and hasty, like a Scotch jig .
Shak.

3. A light, humorous piece of writing, esp. in rhyme; a farce in verse; a ballad. [ Obsolete]

A jig shall be clapped at, and every rhyme
Praised and applauded.
Beau. & Fl.

4. A piece of sport; a trick; a prank. [ Obsolete]

Is't not a fine jig ,
A precious cunning, in the late Protector?
Beau. & Fl.

5. A trolling bait, consisting of a bright spoon and a hook attached.

6. (Machinery) (a) A small machine or handy tool ; esp.: (Metal Working) A contrivance fastened to or inclosing a piece of work, and having hard steel surfaces to guide a tool, as a drill, or to form a shield or templet to work to, as in filing. (b) (Mining) An apparatus or a machine for jigging ore.

Drill jig , a jig for guiding a drill. See Jig , 6 (a) . -- Jig drilling , Jig filing (Metal Working) , a process of drilling or filing in which the action of the tool is directed or limited by a jig. -- Jig saw , a sawing machine with a narrow, vertically reciprocating saw, used to cut curved and irregular lines, or ornamental patterns in openwork, a scroll saw; -- called also gig saw .

Jig Jig transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Jigged ; present participle & verbal noun Jigging .]

1. To sing to the tune of a jig.

Jig off a tune at the tongue's end.
Shak.

2. To trick or cheat; to cajole; to delude. Ford.

3. (Mining) To sort or separate, as ore in a jigger or sieve. See Jigging , noun

4. (Metal Working) To cut or form, as a piece of metal, in a jigging machine.

Jig Jig intransitive verb To dance a jig; to skip about.

You jig , you amble, and you lisp.
Shak.

Jig Jig intransitive verb To move with a skip or rhythm; to move with vibrations or jerks.

The fin would jig off slowly, as if it were looking for nothing at all.
Kipling.

Jigger Jig"ger noun [ A corrupt. of chigre .] (Zoology) A species of flea ( Sarcopsylla, or Pulex, penetrans ), which burrows beneath the skin. See Chigoe .

Jigger Jig"ger noun [ See Jig , noun & v. ]

1. One who, or that which, jigs; specifically, a miner who sorts or cleans ore by the process of jigging; also, the sieve used in jigging.

2. (Pottery) (a) A horizontal table carrying a revolving mold, on which earthen vessels are shaped by rapid motion; a potter's wheel. (b) A templet or tool by which vessels are shaped on a potter's wheel.

3. (Nautical) (a) A light tackle, consisting of a double and single block and the fall, used for various purposes, as to increase the purchase on a topsail sheet in hauling it home; the watch tackle. Totten. (b) A small fishing vessel, rigged like a yawl. [ New Eng.] (c) A supplementary sail. See Dandy , noun , 2 (b) .

4. A pendulum rolling machine for slicking or graining leather; same as Jack , 4 (i) .

Jigger mast . (Nautical) (a) The after mast of a four-masted vessel . (b) The small mast set at the stern of a yawl-rigged boat.

Jigger Jig"ger (jĭg"gẽr) noun (Zoology) Any one of several species of small red mites (esp. Tetranychus irritans and T. Americanus ) which, in the larval or leptus stage, burrow beneath the skin of man and various animals, causing great annoyance. [ Southern U. S.]

Jigger Jig"ger transitive verb [ Confer Jiggle .] To move, send, or drive with a jerk; to jerk; also, to drive or send over with a jerk, as a golf ball.

He could jigger the ball o'er a steeple tall as most men would jigger a cop.
Harper's Mag.

Jigging Jig"ging noun (Mining) The act or using a jig; the act of separating ore with a jigger, or wire-bottomed sieve, which is moved up and down in water.

Jigging machine . (a) (Mining) A machine for separating ore by the process of jigging . (b) (Metal Working) A machine with a rotary milling cutter and a templet by which the action of the cutter is guided or limited; -- used for forming the profile of an irregularly shaped piece; a profiling machine.

Jiggish Jig"gish adjective 1. Resembling, or suitable for, a jig, or lively movement. Tatler.

2. Playful; frisky. [ R.]

She is never sad, and yet not jiggish .
Habington.

Jiggle Jig"gle intransitive verb [ Freq. of jig .] To wriggle or frisk about; to move awkwardly; to shake up and down.

Jigjog Jig"jog` noun A jolting motion; a jogging pace.

Jigjog Jig"jog adjective Having a jolting motion.

Jihad, Jehad Ji·had", Je·had" noun [ Arabic jihād .] (Moham.) A religious war against infidels or Mohammedan heretics; also, any bitter war or crusade for a principle or belief.

[ Their] courage in war . . . had not, like that of the Mohammedan dervishes of the Sudan, or of Mohammedans anywhere engaged in a jehad , a religious motive and the promise of future bliss behind it.
James Bryce.

Jill Jill noun [ See Gill sweetheart.] A young woman; a sweetheart. See Gill . Beau. & Fl.

Jill-flirt Jill"-flirt` noun A light, giddy, or wanton girl or woman. See Gill-flirt .

Jilt Jilt noun [ Contr. from Scot. jillet a giddy girl, a jill-flirt, dim. of jill a jill.] A woman who capriciously deceives her lover; a coquette; a flirt. Otway.

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