Chapter 848

Jeers (?) , n. pl. (Naut.) See 1st Jeer (b) .

Jeffersonia <Xpage=798>

Jef`fer*so"ni*a (?) , n. [NL. Named after Thomas Jefferson .] (Bot.) An American herb with a pretty, white, solitary blossom, and deeply two-cleft leaves ( Jeffersonia diphylla ); twinleaf.

Jeffersonian <Xpage=798>

Jef`fer*so"ni*an (?) , a. Pertaining to, or characteristic of, Thomas Jefferson or his policy or political doctrines.

Lowell.

Jeffersonite <Xpage=798>

Jef"fer*son*ite (?) , n. [Named after Thomas Jefferson .] (Min.) A variety of pyroxene of olive-green color passing into brown. It contains zinc.

Jeg <Xpage=798>

Jeg (?) , n. (Mach.) See Jig , 6.

Jehovah <Xpage=798>

Je*ho"vah (?) , n. [Heb. usually y&ecr;h&omac;v\'beh (with the vowel points of &acr;d&omac;n\'bei Lord), sometimes (to avoid repetition) y&ecr;h&omac;vih (with the vowel points of &ecr;l&omac;h\'c6m God); but only the four Heb, consonants yhvh are conceded to be certainly known.] A Scripture name of the Supreme Being, by which he was revealed to the Jews as their covenant God or Sovereign of the theocracy; the "ineffable name" of the Supreme Being, which was not pronounced by the Jews.

Jehovist <Xpage=798>

Je*ho"vist (?) , n. 1. One who maintains that the vowel points of the word Jehovah , in Hebrew, are the proper vowels of that word; -- opposed to adonist .

2. The writer of the passages of the Old Testament, especially those of the Pentateuch, in which the Supreme Being is styled Jehovah . See Elohist .

The characteristic manner of the Jehovist differs from that of his predecessor [the Elohist]. He is fuller and freer in his descriptions; more reflective in his assignment of motives and causes; more artificial in mode of narration. S. Davidson.

Jehovistic <Xpage=798>

Je`ho*vis"tic (?) , a. Relating to, or containing, Jehovah, as a name of God; -- said of certain parts of the Old Testament, especially of the Pentateuch, in which Jehovah appears as the name of the Deity. See Elohistic .

Jehu <Xpage=798>

Je"hu (?) , n. [From Jehu , son of Nimshi. 2 Kings ix. 20.] A coachman; a driver; especially, one who drives furiously. [Colloq.]

Jejunal <Xpage=798>

Je*ju"nal (?) , a. Pertaining to the jejunum.

Jejune <Xpage=798>

Je*june" (?) , a. [L. jejunus fasting, hungry, dry, barren, scanty; of unknown origin.]

1. Lacking matter; empty; void of substance.

2. Void of interest; barren; meager; dry; as, a jejune narrative .

- Je*june"ly , adv. -- Je*june"ness , n.

Bacon.

Jefunity <Xpage=798>

Je*fu"ni*ty (?) , n. The quality of being jejune; jejuneness.

Jejunum <Xpage=798>

Je*ju"num (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. jejunus empty, dry.] (Anat.) The middle division of the small intestine, between the duodenum and ileum; -- so called because usually found empty after death.

Jelerang <Xpage=798>

Jel"er*ang (?) , n. [Native name.] (Zo\'94l.) A large, handsome squirrel ( Sciurus Javensis ), native of Java and Southern Asia; -- called also Java squirrel .

Jell <Xpage=798>

Jell (?) , v. i. To jelly. [Colloq.]

Jellied <Xpage=798>

Jel"lied (?) , a. Brought to the state or consistence of jelly.

Jelly <Xpage=798>

Jel"ly (?) , n. ; pl. Jellies (#) . [ Formerly gelly , gely , F. gel\'82e jelly, frost, fr. geler to freeze. L. gelare ; akin to gelu frost. See Gelid .]

1. Anything brought to a gelatinous condition; a viscous, translucent substance in a condition between liquid and solid; a stiffened solution of gelatin, gum, or the like.

2. The juice of fruits or meats boiled with sugar to an elastic consistence; as, currant jelly ; calf's-foot jelly .

Jelly bag , a bag through which the material for jelly is strained. -- Jelly mold , a mold for forming jelly in ornamental shapes. -- Jelly plant (Bot.) , Australian name of an edible seaweed ( Eucheuma speciosum ), from which an excellent jelly is made. J. Smith . -- Jelly powder , an explosive, composed of nitroglycerin and collodion cotton; -- so called from its resemblance to calf's-foot jelly.

Jelly <Xpage=798>

Jel"ly , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Jellied (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Jellying .] To become jelly; to come to the state or consistency of jelly.

Jellyfish <Xpage=798>

Jel"ly*fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of the acalephs, esp. one of the larger species, having a jellylike appearance. See Medusa .

Jemidar <Xpage=798>

Jem"i*dar` (?) , n. [Per. & Hind. jama-d\'ber .] The chief or leader of a hand or body of persons; esp., in the native army of India, an officer of a rank corresponding to that of lieutenant in the English army. [Written also jemadar , jamadar .]

Jemlah goat <Xpage=798>

Jem"lah goat` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) The jharal.

Jemminess <Xpage=798>

Jem"mi*ness (?) , n. Spruceness. [Slang, Eng.]

Pegge (1814).

Jemmy <Xpage=798>

Jem"my (?) , a. [Cf. Gim , and Gimp , a. ] Spruce. [Slang, Eng.]

Smart.

Jemmy <Xpage=798>

Jem"my , n. 1. A short crowbar. See Jimmy .

2. A baked sheep's head. [Slang, Eng.]

Dickens.

Jeniquen <Xpage=798>

Je*ni"quen (?) , n. [Sp. jeniquen .] (Bot.) A Mexican name for the Sisal hemp ( Agave rigida , var. Sisalana ); also, its fiber. [Written also hen\'c6equen .]

Jenite <Xpage=798>

Je"nite (?) , n. (Min.) See Yenite .

Jenkins <Xpage=798>

Jen"kins (?) , n. name of contempt for a flatterer of persons high in social or official life; as, the Jenkins employed by a newspaper. [Colloq. Eng. & U.S.]

G. W. Curtis.

<page="799"> Page 799

Jennet <Xpage=799>

Jen"net (?) , n. [F. genet , Sp. jinete , orig., a mounted soldier, Ar. zen\'beta a tribe of Barbary celebrated for its cavalry.] A small Spanish horse; a genet.

Jenneting <Xpage=799>

Jen"net*ing , n. [Prob. fr. a dim. of Jean John, so named as becoming ripe about St. John's day, June 24. F. Jean is fr. L. Johannes . See Zany .] A variety of early apple. See Juneating . [Written also geniting .]

Jenny <Xpage=799>

Jen"ny (?) , n. ; pl. Jennies (<?/) .

1. A familiar or pet form of the proper name Jane .

2. (Zo\'94l.) A familiar name of the European wren.

Jenny ass (Zo\'94l.) , a female ass.

Jenny <Xpage=799>

Jen"ny , n. [A corruption of gin an engine; influenced by Jenny , the proper name. See Gin an engine, and cf. Ginny-carriage .] A machine for spinning a number of threads at once, -- used in factories.

Jentling <Xpage=799>

Jent"ling (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A fish of the genus Leuciscus ; the blue chub of the Danube.

Jeofail <Xpage=799>

Jeof"ail (?) , n. [F. j'ai failli I have failed.] (Law) An oversight in pleading, or the acknowledgment of a mistake or oversight.

Blackstone.

Jeopard <Xpage=799>

Jeop"ard (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Jeoparded ; p. pr. & vb. n. Jeoparding .] [From Jeopardy .] To put in jeopardy; to expose to loss or injury; to imperil; to hazard.

Sir T. North.

A people that jeoparded their lives unto the death. Judg. v. 18.

Syn. -- To hazard; risk; imperil; endanger; expose.

Jeoparder <Xpage=799>

Jeop"ard*er (?) , n. One who puts in jeopardy. [R.]

Jeopardize <Xpage=799>

Jeop"ard*ize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Jeopardized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Jeopardizing (?) .] To expose to loss or injury; to risk; to jeopard.

That he should jeopardize his willful head Only for spite at me. H. Taylor.

Jeopardous <Xpage=799>

Jeop"ard*ous (?) , a. Perilous; hazardous.

His goodly, valiant, and jeopardous enterprise. Fuller.

-- Jeop"ard*ous*ly , adv.

Huloet.

Jeopardy <Xpage=799>

Jeop"ard*y (?) , n. [OE. jupartie , juperti , jeuparti , OF. jeu parti an even game, a game in which the chances are even; OF. jeu , ju , F. jeu (L. jocus jest) + F. partier to divide, L. partire to divide. See Joke , and Part .] Exposure to death, loss, or injury; hazard; danger.

There came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy . Luke viii. 23.

Look to thyself, thou art in jeopardy . Shak.

Syn. -- Danger; peril; hazard; risk. See Danger .

Jeopardy <Xpage=799>

Jeop"ard*y , v. t. To jeopardize. [R.]

Thackeray.

Jerboa <Xpage=799>

Jer*bo"a (?) , n. [Ar. yarb<?/' .] (Zo\'94l.) Any small jumping rodent of the genus Dipus , esp . D. \'92gyptius , which is common in Egypt and the adjacent countries. The jerboas have very long hind legs and a long tail. [Written also gerboa .]

&hand; The name is also applied to other small jumping rodents, as the Pedetes Caffer , of the Cape of Good Hope.

Jerboa kangaroo (Zo\'94l.) , small Australian kangaroo ( Bettongia penicillata ), about the size of a common hare.

Jereed <Xpage=799>

Jer*eed" (?) , n. [Ar. jer\'c6d . Cf. Djereed .] A blunt javelin used by the people of the Levant, especially in mock fights. [Written also jerreed , jerid .]

Byron.

Jeremiad, Jeremiade <Xpage=799>

Jer`e*mi"ad , Jer`e*mi"ade , n. [From Jeremiah , the prophet: cf. F. j\'82r\'82miade .] A tale of sorrow, disappointment, or complaint; a doleful story; a dolorous tirade; -- generally used satirically.

He has prolonged his complaint into an endless jeremiad . Lamb.

Jerfalcon <Xpage=799>

Jer"fal`con (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The gyrfalcon.

Jerguer <Xpage=799>

Jer"guer (?) , n. See Jerquer .

Jerid <Xpage=799>

Jer*id" (?) , n. Same as Jereed .

Jerk <Xpage=799>

Jerk (?) , v. t. [Corrupted from Peruv. charqui dried beef.] To cut into long slices or strips and dry in the sun; as, jerk beef . See Charqui .

Jerk <Xpage=799>

Jerk , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Jerked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Jerking .] [Akin to yerk , and perh. also to yard a measure.]

1. To beat; to strike. [Obs.]

Florio.

2. To give a quick and suddenly arrested thrust, push, pull, or twist, to; to yerk; as, to jerk one with the elbow; to jerk a coat off.

3. To throw with a quick and suddenly arrested motion of the hand; as, to jerk a stone .

Jerk <Xpage=799>

Jerk , v. i.

1. To make a sudden motion; to move with a start, or by starts.

Milton.

2. To flout with contempt.

Jerk <Xpage=799>

Jerk , n.

1. A short, sudden pull, thrust, push, twitch, jolt, shake, or similar motion.

His jade gave him a jerk . B. Jonson.

2. A sudden start or spring.

Lobsters . . . swim backwards by jerks or springs. Grew.

Jerker <Xpage=799>

Jerk"er (?) , n.

1. A beater. [Obs.]

Beau. & Fl.

2. One who jerks or moves with a jerk.

3. (Zo\'94l.) A North American river chub ( Hybopsis biguttatus ).

Jerkin <Xpage=799>

Jer"kin (?) , n. [Dim. of D. jurk a frock.] A jacket or short coat; a close waistcoat.

Shak.

Jerkin <Xpage=799>

Jer"kin , n. (Zo\'94l.) A male gyrfalcon.

Jerking <Xpage=799>

Jerk"ing (?) , n. The act of pulling, pushing, or throwing, with a jerk. -- Jerk"ing*ly , adv.

Jerkinhead <Xpage=799>

Jer"kin*head` (?) , n. (Arch.) The hipped part of a roof which is hipped only for a part of its height, leaving a truncated gable.

Jerky <Xpage=799>

Jerk"y (?) , a. Moving by jerks and starts; characterized by abrupt transitions; as, a jerky vehicle; a jerky style.

Jermoonal <Xpage=799>

Jer*moon"al (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The Himalayan now partridge.

Jeronymite <Xpage=799>

Je*ron"y*mite (?) , n. (Eccl. Hist.) One belonging of the medi\'91val religious orders called Hermits of St. Jerome . [Written also Hieronymite .]

Jeropigia <Xpage=799>

Jer`o*pig"i*a (?) , n. See Geropigia .

Jerquer <Xpage=799>

Jer"quer (?) , n. [Cf. F. chercher to search, E. search .] A customhouse officer who searches ships for unentered goods. [Eng.] [Written also jerguer. ]

Jerquing <Xpage=799>

Jer"quing (?) , n. The searching of a ship for unentered goods. [Eng.] [Written also jerguer .]

Jerquing <Xpage=799>

Jer"quing (?) , n. The searching of a ship for unentered goods. [Eng.]

Jerry-built <Xpage=799>

Jer"ry-built` (?) , a. Built hastily and of bad materials; as, jerry-built houses . [Colloq. Eng.]

Jersey <Xpage=799>

Jer"sey (?) , n. ; pl. Jerseys (#) . [From Jersey , the largest of the Channel Islands.]

1. The finest of wool separated from the rest; combed wool; also, fine yarn of wool.

2. A kind of knitted jacket; hence, in general, a closefitting jacket or upper garment made of an elastic fabric (as stockinet).

3. One of a breed of cattle in the Island of Jersey. Jerseys are noted for the richness of their milk.

Jerusalem <Xpage=799>

Je*ru"sa*lem (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, fr. Heb. Y<?/r<?/sh\'belaim .] The chief city of Palestine, intimately associated with the glory of the Jewish nation, and the life and death of Jesus Christ.

Jerusalem artichoke [Perh. a corrupt. of It. girasole i.e. , sunflower, or turnsole. See Gyre , Solar .] (Bot.) (a) An American plant, a perennial species of sunflower ( Helianthus tuberosus ), whose tubers are sometimes used as food . (b) One of the tubers themselves. -- Jerusalem cherry (Bot.) , the popular name of either of either of two species of Solanum ( S. Pseudo-capsicum and S. capsicastrum ), cultivated as ornamental house plants. They bear bright red berries of about the size of cherries. -- Jerusalem oak (Bot.) , an aromatic goosefoot ( Chenopodium Botrys ), common about houses and along roadsides. -- Jerusalem sage (Bot.) , a perennial herb of the Mint family ( Phlomis tuberosa ). -- Jerusalem thorn (Bot.) , a spiny, leguminous tree ( Parkinsonia aculeata ), widely dispersed in warm countries, and used for hedges. -- The New Jerusalem , Heaven; the Celestial City.

Jervine <Xpage=799>

Jer"vine (?) , n. [Prob. fr. Sp. yerba herb, OSp., the poison of the veratrum.] (Chem.) A poisonous alkaloid resembling veratrine, and found with it in white hellebore ( Veratrum album ); -- called also jervina .

Jess <Xpage=799>

Jess (?) , n. ; pl. Jesses (#) . [OF. gies , giez , prop. pl. of giet , get , jet , F. jet , a throwing, jess. See Jet a shooting forth.] ( falconry ) A short strap of leather or silk secured round the leg of a hawk, to which the leash or line, wrapped round the falconer's hand, was attached when used. See Illust . of Falcon .

Like a hawk, which feeling freed From bells and jesses which did let her flight. Spenser.

Jessamine <Xpage=799>

Jes"sa*mine (?) , n. (Bot.) Same as Jasmine .

Jessant <Xpage=799>

Jes"sant (?) , a. (Her.) Springing up or emerging; -- said of a plant or animal.

Jesse <Xpage=799>

Jes"se (?) , n. [LL. Jesse , the father of David, fr. Gr. <?/, fr. Herb. Yishai .] Any representation or suggestion of the genealogy of Christ, in decorative art ; as: (a) A genealogical tree represented in stained glass . (b) A candlestick with many branches, each of which bears the name of some one of the descendants of Jesse; -- called also tree of Jesse .

Jesse window (Arch.) , a window of which the glazing and tracery represent the tree of Jesse.

Jessed <Xpage=799>

Jessed (?) , a. (Her.) Having jesses on, as a hawk.

Jest <Xpage=799>

Jest (?) , n. [OE. jeste , geste , deed, action, story, tale, OF. geste , LL. gesta , orig., exploits, neut. pl. from L. gestus , p. p. of gerere to bear, carry, accomplish, perform; perh. orig., to make to come, bring, and perh. akin to E. come . Cf. Gest a deed, Register , n. ]

1. A deed; an action; a gest. [Obs.]

The jests or actions of princes. Sir T. Elyot.

2. A mask; a pageant; an interlude. [Obs.]

Nares.

He promised us, in honor of our guest, To grace our banquet with some pompous jest . Kyd.

3. Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under Jest , v. i.

I must be sad . . . smile at no man's jests . Shak.

The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests , and to his imagination for his facts. Sheridan.

4. The object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock.

Then let me be your jest ; I deserve it. Shak.

In jest , for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest.

And given in earnest what I begged in jest . Shak.

-- Jest book , a book containing a collection of jests, jokes, and amusing anecdotes; a Joe Miller.

Jest <Xpage=799>

Jest , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Jested ; p. pr. & vb. n. Jesting .]

1. To take part in a merrymaking; -- especially, to act in a mask or interlude. [Obs.]

Shak.