catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Jack-in-a-box \Jack-in-a-box\
     1. (Bot.) A tropical tree ({Hernandia sonora), which bears a
        drupe that rattles when dry in the inflated calyx.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A child's toy, consisting of a box, out of which, when the
        lid is raised, a figure (usually a clown) springs; also
        called jack-in-the-box.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Mech.) An epicyclic train of bevel gears for transmitting
        rotary motion to two parts in such a manner that their
        relative rotation may be variable; applied to driving the
        wheels of tricycles, road locomotives, and to cotton
        machinery, etc.; an equation box; a jack frame; -- called
        also compensating gearing.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. A large wooden screw turning in a nut attached to the
        crosspiece of a rude press.
        [1913 Webster]

  
  
     Jack rabbit (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of large
        American hares, having very large ears and long legs. The
        California species ({Lepus Californicus), and that of
        Texas and New Mexico ({L. callotis), have the tail black
        above, and the ears black at the tip. They do not become
        white in winter. The more northern prairie hare ({L.
        campestris) has the upper side of the tail white, and in
        winter its fur becomes nearly white.
  
     Jack rafter (Arch.), in England, one of the shorter rafters
        used in constructing a hip or valley roof; in the United
        States, any secondary roof timber, as the common rafters
        resting on purlins in a trussed roof; also, one of the
        pieces simulating extended rafters, used under the eaves
        in some styles of building.
  
     Jack salmon (Zo["o]l.), the wall-eyed pike, or glasseye.
  
     Jack sauce, an impudent fellow. [Colloq. & Obs.]
  
     Jack shaft (Mach.), the first intermediate shaft, in a
        factory or mill, which receives power, through belts or
        gearing, from a prime mover, and transmits it, by the same
        means, to other intermediate shafts or to a line shaft.
  
     Jack sinker (Knitting Mach.), a thin iron plate operated by
        the jack to depress the loop of thread between two
        needles.
  
     Jack snipe. (Zo["o]l.) See in the Vocabulary.
  
     Jack staff (Naut.), a staff fixed on the bowsprit cap, upon
        which the jack is hoisted.
  
     Jack timber (Arch.), any timber, as a rafter, rib, or
        studding, which, being intercepted, is shorter than the
        others.
  
     Jack towel, a towel hung on a roller for common use.
  
     Jack truss (Arch.), in a hip roof, a minor truss used where
        the roof has not its full section.
  
     Jack tree. (Bot.) See 1st Jack, n.
  
     Jack yard (Naut.), a short spar to extend a topsail beyond
        the gaff.
  
     Blue jack, blue vitriol; sulphate of copper.
  
     Hydraulic jack, a jack used for lifting, pulling, or
        forcing, consisting of a compact portable hydrostatic
        press, with its pump and a reservoir containing a supply
        of liquid, as oil.
  
     Jack-at-a-pinch.
         (a) One called upon to take the place of another in an
             emergency.
         (b) An itinerant parson who conducts an occasional
             service for a fee.
  
     Jack-at-all-trades, one who can turn his hand to any kind
        of work.
  
     Jack-by-the-hedge (Bot.), a plant of the genus Erysimum
        ({E. alliaria, or Alliaria officinalis), which grows
        under hedges. It bears a white flower and has a taste not
        unlike garlic. Called also, in England, sauce-alone.
        --Eng. Cyc.
  
     Jack-in-a-box.
         (a) (Bot.) A tropical tree ({Hernandia sonora), which
             bears a drupe that rattles when dry in the inflated
             calyx.
         (b) A child's toy, consisting of a box, out of which,
             when the lid is raised, a figure springs.
         (c) (Mech.) An epicyclic train of bevel gears for
             transmitting rotary motion to two parts in such a
             manner that their relative rotation may be variable;
             applied to driving the wheels of tricycles, road
             locomotives, and to cotton machinery, etc.; an
             equation box; a jack frame; -- called also
             compensating gearing.
         (d) A large wooden screw turning in a nut attached to the
             crosspiece of a rude press.
  
     Jack-in-office, an insolent fellow in authority. --Wolcott.
  
     Jack-in-the-bush (Bot.), a tropical shrub with red fruit
        ({Cordia Cylindrostachya).
  
     Jack-in-the-green, a chimney sweep inclosed in a framework
        of boughs, carried in Mayday processions.
  
     Jack-in-the-pulpit (Bot.), the American plant Aris[ae]ma
        triphyllum, or Indian turnip, in which the upright spadix
        is inclosed.
  
     Jack-of-the-buttery+(Bot.),+the+stonecrop+({Sedum+acre" rel="nofollow">Jack-of-the-buttery (Bot.), the stonecrop ({Sedum acre).
        
  
     Jack-of-the-clock, a figure, usually of a man, on old
        clocks, which struck the time on the bell.
  
     Jack-on-both-sides, one who is or tries to be neutral.
  
     Jack-out-of-office, one who has been in office and is
        turned out. --Shak.
  
     Jack the Giant Killer, the hero of a well-known nursery
        story.
  
     Jack-with-a-lantern, Jack-o'-lantern.
         (a) An ignis fatuus; a will-o'-the-wisp. ``[Newspaper
             speculations] supplying so many more jack-o'-lanterns
             to the future historian.'' --Lowell.
         (b) A lantern made of a pumpkin so prepared as to show in
             illumination the features of a human face, etc.
  
     Yellow Jack (Naut.), the yellow fever; also, the quarantine
        flag. See Yellow flag, under Flag.