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boccaccio

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boccaccio

 

  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Jack  \Jack\,  n.  [F.  Jacques  James,  L.  Jacobus,  Gr  ?,  Heb.  Ya 
  'aq[=o]b  Jacob;  prop.,  seizing  by  the  heel;  hence  a 
  supplanter.  Cf  {Jacobite},  {Jockey}.] 
  1.  A  familiar  nickname  of  or  substitute  for  John. 
 
  You  are  John  Rugby,  and  you  are  Jack  Rugby.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  An  impertinent  or  silly  fellow;  a  simpleton;  a  boor;  a 
  clown;  also  a  servant;  a  rustic.  ``Jack  fool.'' 
  --Chaucer. 
 
  Since  every  Jack  became  a  gentleman,  There  's  many  a 
  gentle  person  made  a  Jack.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  A  popular  colloquial  name  for  a  sailor;  --  called  also 
  {Jack  tar},  and  {Jack  afloat}. 
 
  4.  A  mechanical  contrivance,  an  auxiliary  machine,  or  a 
  subordinate  part  of  a  machine,  rendering  convenient 
  service,  and  often  supplying  the  place  of  a  boy  or 
  attendant  who  was  commonly  called  Jack;  as: 
  a  A  device  to  pull  off  boots. 
  b  A  sawhorse  or  sawbuck. 
  c  A  machine  or  contrivance  for  turning  a  spit;  a  smoke 
  jack,  or  kitchen  jack. 
  b  (Mining)  A  wooden  wedge  for  separating  rocks  rent  by 
  blasting. 
  e  (Knitting  Machine)  A  lever  for  depressing  the  sinkers 
  which  push  the  loops  down  on  the  needles. 
  f  (Warping  Machine)  A  grating  to  separate  and  guide  the 
  threads;  a  heck  box. 
  g  (Spinning)  A  machine  for  twisting  the  sliver  as  it 
  leaves  the  carding  machine. 
  h  A  compact,  portable  machine  for  planing  metal. 
  i  A  machine  for  slicking  or  pebbling  leather. 
  k  A  system  of  gearing  driven  by  a  horse  power,  for 
  multiplying  speed. 
  l  A  hood  or  other  device  placed  over  a  chimney  or  vent 
  pipe,  to  prevent  a  back  draught. 
  m  In  the  harpsichord,  an  intermediate  piece 
  communicating  the  action  of  the  key  to  the  quill;  -- 
  called  also  {hopper}. 
  n  In  hunting,  the  pan  or  frame  holding  the  fuel  of  the 
  torch  used  to  attract  game  at  night;  also  the  light 
  itself  --C.  Hallock. 
 
  5.  A  portable  machine  variously  constructed,  for  exerting 
  great  pressure,  or  lifting  or  moving  a  heavy  body  through 
  a  small  distance.  It  consists  of  a  lever,  screw,  rack  and 
  pinion,  hydraulic  press,  or  any  simple  combination  of 
  mechanical  powers,  working  in  a  compact  pedestal  or 
  support  and  operated  by  a  lever,  crank,  capstan  bar,  etc 
  The  name  is  often  given  to  a  jackscrew,  which  is  a  kind  of 
  jack. 
 
  6.  The  small  bowl  used  as  a  mark  in  the  game  of  bowls. 
  --Shak. 
 
  Like  an  uninstructed  bowler  who  thinks  to  attain  the 
  jack  by  delivering  his  bowl  straight  forward  upon 
  it  --Sir  W. 
  Scott. 
 
  7.  The  male  of  certain  animals,  as  of  the  ass. 
 
  8.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  A  young  pike;  a  pickerel. 
  b  The  jurel. 
  c  A  large  California  rock  fish  ({Sebastodes 
  paucispinus});  --  called  also  {boccaccio},  and 
  {m['e]rou}. 
  d  The  wall-eyed  pike. 
 
  9.  A  drinking  measure  holding  half  a  pint;  also  one  holding 
  a  quarter  of  a  pint.  [Prov.  Eng.]  --Halliwell. 
 
  10.  (Naut.) 
  a  A  flag,  containing  only  the  union,  without  the  fly, 
  usually  hoisted  on  a  jack  staff  at  the  bowsprit  cap; 
  --  called  also  {union  jack}.  The  American  jack  is  a 
  small  blue  flag,  with  a  star  for  each  State. 
  b  A  bar  of  iron  athwart  ships  at  a  topgallant  masthead, 
  to  support  a  royal  mast,  and  give  spread  to  the  royal 
  shrouds;  --  called  also  {jack  crosstree}.  --R.  H. 
  Dana,  Jr




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