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 prates. rapid or confused talk.

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

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

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, Bignoniaces.

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

JACCHUS, jak'kus, 8. (iacho, I cry aloud, Gr.) 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, juk, 8. 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 pasng 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 eolipile. 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, & Flet,

JACK-A-DANDY, jak-a-dan'de, 8, 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; s 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.

JACKSAUCE-JACQUEMONTIA.

JACKSAUCE, jak'saws, s. An impudent fellow; a saucy Jack.

His reputation is as arrant a villain, and a Jacksauce. -Shaks. JACKSMITH, jak'smith, s. A smith who makes jacks for the chimney.

JACKSONIA, jak-so'ne-a, s. (in honour of George Jackson, a Scotch botanist.) A genus of Leguminous Australian shrubs, usually leafless in the adult state; flowers yellow: Suborder, Papilio

naceæ.

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.

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a. Resembling the Jacobins of

JACOBINE, jak'o-bine, s. A monk of the order of Dominicans; a pigeon with a high tuft. JACOBINISM, jak ́o-bin-izm, s. Jacobin principles;

unreasonable or violent opposition to legitimate government; popular turbulence.

JACOBINIZE, jak'o-bin-ize, v. a. To taint with

Jacobinism.

JACOBINLY, jak'o-bin-le, ad. After the manner of Jacobins.

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 principles of the partisans of James II.

armour for the legs.

JACKDAW, jak'daw, s. The common name of the bird Corvus monedula. Gracula guiscala, from its colour, is called the purple jackduw. JACKET, jak it, s. (jaquette, Fr.) A short close garment worn by males; a short coat. Steamjacket, the cylinders of steam-engines, of a large size, are usually encircled with other cylinders of greater diameter; steam being introduced between them in order that the inner cylinder may be kept

warm.

JACKETED, jakit-ed, a. Wearing a jacket. JACKIA, jak ́e-a, s. (in bonour of the late William Jack, surgeon, H.E.I.C.S.) A genus of plants, natives of the East Indies: Order, Cinchonacea. JACKPUDDING, jak-pud'ding, s. A merry andrew; a buffoon; a zany.

Every jackpudding will be ridiculing palpable weaknesses which they ought to cover.-L'Estrange.

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 cæruleum: Order, Polemoniaceæ.

JACOB'S STAFF, ja'kobz-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. A kind of coarse muslin not so fine as lawn.

JACQUARD LOOM, jakʼărd 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

JACQUINIA-JAGUAR.

plants, consisting of herbs or subshrubs: Order, Convolvulaces. JACQUINIA, ja-kwi'ne-a, s. (in honour of James Nie. Jos. de Jacquin, Professor of Botany at Vienna) A genus of plants: Order, Sapotacea. JACTANCY, jak'tan-se, s. (jactantia, Lat.) A boasting.-Obsolete.

JACTITATION, jak-te-ta’shun, s. (jactatio, Lat.) A tossing of the body; restlessness; heaving. In Law, a false boasting. The word is commonly used with reference, 1st, to marriage; 2nd, to the right to a seat in a church; 3rd, to tithes. Jactitation of marriage, the boasting or giving out by a party that he or she is married to some other, whereby a common reputation of their matrimony may ensue. Jactitation of a right to a seat in a church appears to be the boasting by a man that he has a right or title to a pew or sitting in a church to which he has legally no title. Juctitation of tithes, the boasting by a man that he is entitled to certain tithes, to which he has legally no title.-Reg. Eccl. Law, 482.

JAH JAMES.

JAH, ja, 8. (Hebrew.) Jehovah. JAIL, jale, s. (geole, Fr.) A prison; a building or place for the confinement of persons arrested for debt or for crime.

A prisoner; one who has

JAILBIRD, jale'burd, s. been confined in prison. JAILER, ja'lur, s. The keeper of a prison. JAILFEVER, jale'fe-vur, s. A contagious fatal fever generated in jails and other places crowded with people. JAINS, jayns, 8. A sect, or rather race, of JOINUS, joyn'us, Hindoos, who dissent from the established faith of Brahminism, and deny the authority of the Vedas; they believe in the eternity of the material world, and in that of the minds of men and other animals, and deny the existence of any Supreme Being.

JAKES, jakes, s. A house of office or back house; a privy.

JACULATION, jak-u-la'shun, s. The act of throwing missive weapons.

So hills amid the air encounter'd hills, Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire.-Milton. JACULATORY, jak'u-lay-tur-e, a. Darting or throw ing out; uttered, as short sentences. JADE, jade, s. (derivation doubtful.) A horse of no spirit; a hired horse; a worthless nag; a mean woman; a word of contempt, noting sometimes age, but generally vice; a young woman, in irony or slight contempt. In Mineralogy,—see Nephrite; -r. a. to tire; to harass; to dispirit; to weary; to crush; to overbear; to degrade; to employ in mean offices; to rule with tyranny ;-v. n. to lose spirit; to sink.

JADERY, ja'dur-e, & The tricks of a jade.
JADISH, ja'dish, a. Vicious; bad; like a jade;

The name of a well-known purgative obtained from the root of the plant Ipomoea Jalapa, a native of Jalapa in South Americahence the name.

JALAPIC, jal'lup-ik, a. Pertaining to jalap. JALAPINE, jalla-pine, s. The supposed base of jalap.

JAM, jam, s. A conserve of fruits boiled with sugar and water; a kind of frock for children;-v. a. (jem, a press, Rus.) to press; to wedge in; to tread hard or make firm by treading.

JAMAICA, ja-ma'ka, a. Pertaining to the island of Jamaica. Jamaica dogwood, the plant Piscidia erythrina. Jamaica rose,-see Meriania. Jumaica ebony, the plant Amerimnum ebenus, a native of the West Indies. Jamaica milkwood, a species of the bread-nut, Brosimum alicastrum, a native of Jamaica.

JAMAICA ALSPICE, ja-ma'ka awl'spise, s. Pimenta, or Jamaica pepper, the highly aromatic berries of the plant Euginea pimenta: Order, Myrtacea. JAMANA, or SPAR-WING.-See Parra. JAMASINA, jam-a-si'na, s. A vegetable alkaline

principle obtained from the bark of Geoffroya Jamaicensis, or Cabbage-bark tree.

JAMB, jam, s. (jambe, Fr.) In Architecture, a supporter; the sidepiece or post of a door; the sidepiece of a fireplace.

JAMBEE, jam-be', s. A name formerly given to a fashionable cane.

Sir Timothy, yours is a true jambee, and esquire Empty's only a plain dragon. This virtuosa has a parcel of jambees now growing in the East Indies.-Tatler. JAMBEUX, jam'buze, s. Armour for the legs.-Obsolete.

One for his legs and knees provided well, With jambeuz arın'd, and double plates of steel.Dryden. JAMBOLANA, jam-bo-la'na, s. One of the names of the Java plum-tree, or the Jambolan syzygium -the Syzygium jambolanum of De Candole : Order, Myrtaceæ.

JAMBOSA, jam-boʻza, s. (altered from shambu, the Malayan name of one of the species.) A genus of plants: Order, Myrtacea.

JAMES, jamze, s. The name of one of the epistles contained in the New Testament, the canonical authority of which has been much disputed. Euse