[dʒak], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a device for lifting heavy objects, especially one for raising the axle of a motor vehicle off the ground so that a wheel can be changed or the underside inspected.

- a playing card bearing a representation of a soldier, page, or knave, normally ranking next below a queen.

- a socket designed to receive a jack plug.

- a plug used in a jack socket, consisting of a shaft used to make a connection that transmits a signal, typically used in sound equipment.

- a small white ball in bowls, at which the players aim.

- a game played by tossing and catching small round pebbles or star-shaped pieces of metal or plastic.

- used to typify an ordinary man
(e.g: he had that world-weary look of the working Jack who'd seen everything)

- a small version of a national flag flown at the bow of a vessel in harbour to indicate its nationality.

- money.

- a device for turning a spit.

- a part of the mechanism in a spinet or harpsichord that connects a key to its corresponding string and causes the string to be plucked when the key is pressed down.

- a marine fish that is typically laterally compressed with a row of large spiky scales along each side, important in many places as food or game fish.

- the male of various animals, especially a merlin.

- used in names of animals that are smaller than similar kinds, e.g. jack snipe.



Phrases:
- I'm all right, Jack
- before one can say Jack Robinson
- every man jack
- jack of all trades
- jack of all trades and master of none
- on one's jack

Origin:
late Middle English: from Jack, pet form of the given name John. The term was used originally to denote an ordinary man (jack (sense 7)), also a youth (mid 16th century), hence the ‘knave’ in cards and ‘male animal’. The word also denoted various devices saving human labour, as though one had a helper (jack (sense 1, jack sense 3, jack sense 10, jack sense 11), and in compounds such as jackhammer and jackknife); the general sense ‘labourer’ arose in the early 18th century and survives in cheapjack, lumberjack, steeplejack, etc. Since the mid 16th century a notion of ‘smallness’ has arisen, hence jack (sense 5, jack sense 6, jack sense 8, jack sense 14)

[dʒak], (Noun)

Definitions:

- a sleeveless padded tunic worn by foot soldiers.


Phrases:

Origin:

[dʒak], (Verb)

Definitions:
- take (something) illicitly; steal
(e.g: what's wrong is to jack somebody's lyrics and not acknowledge the fact)


Phrases:

Origin:
1990s: from hijack

[dʒak], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- tired of or bored with someone or something
(e.g: people are getting jack of strikes)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 19th century: from jack up ‘give up’ (see jack up)