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The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section I, J, K, and L · Project Gutenberg — chapter 443 of 826 · ~639 words · public domain

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4. A large herringlike fish; the tarpum.

Jew*ise" (?), n. Same as Juise. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Jew"ish (?), a. Of or pertaining to the Jews or Hebrews; characteristic of or resembling the Jews or their customs; Israelitish. -- Jew"ish*ly, adv. -- Jew"ish*ness, n.

Jew"ry (?), n. [OE. Jewerie, OF. Juierie, F. Juiverie.] Judea; also, a district inhabited by Jews; a Jews' quarter. Chaucer.

Teaching throughout all Jewry.

Luke xxiii. 5.

Jew's"-ear` (?), n. (Bot.) A species of fungus (Hirneola Auricula-Judæ, or Auricula), bearing some resemblance to the human ear.

Jew's-harp` (?), n. [Jew + harp; or possibly a corrupt. of jaw's harp; cf. G. maultrommel, lit., mouthdrum.] 1. An instrument of music, which, when placed between the teeth, gives, by means of a bent metal tongue struck by the finger, a sound which is modulated by the breath; -- called also Jew's-trump.

2. (Naut.) The shackle for joining a chain cable to an anchor.

{ Jew's-stone` (?), Jew"stone` (?) }, n. (Paleon.) A large clavate spine of a fossil sea urchin.

Jez"e*bel (?), n. [From Jezebel, Heb. Izebel, the wife of Ahab king of Israel.] A bold, vicious woman; a termagant. Spectator.

Jha"ral (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) A wild goat (Capra Jemlaica) which inhabits the loftiest mountains of India. It has long, coarse hair, forming a thick mane on its head and neck.

Jib (?), n. [Named from its shifting from side to side. See Jib, v. i.., Jibe.]

1. (Naut.) A triangular sail set upon a stay or halyard extending from the foremast or fore-topmast to the bowsprit or the jib boom. Large vessels often carry several jibs; as, inner jib; outer jib; flying jib; etc.

2. (Mach.) The projecting arm of a crane, from which the load is suspended.

Jib boom (Naut.), a spar or boom which serves as an extension of the bowsprit. It is sometimes extended by another spar called the flying jib boom. [Written also gib boom.] -- Jib crane (Mach.), a crane having a horizontal jib on which a trolley moves, bearing the load. -- Jib door (Arch.), a door made flush with the wall, without dressings or moldings; a disguised door. -- Jib header (Naut.), a gaff-topsail, shaped like a jib; a jib-headed topsail. -- Jib topsail (Naut.), a small jib set above and outside of all the other jibs. -- The cut of one's jib, one's outward appearance. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.

Jib (?), v. i. [Connected with jibe; cf. OF. giber to shake.] To move restively backward or sidewise, -- said of a horse; to balk. [Written also jibb.] [Eng.]

Jib"ber (?), n. A horse that jibs. [Eng.]

Jibe (jb), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jibed (jbd); p. pr. & vb. n. Jibing (jb"ng).] [Cf. Dan. gibbe, D. gijpen, v. i., and dial. Sw. gippa to jerk. Cf. Jib, n. & v. i.] (Naut.) To shift, as the boom of a fore-and-aft sail, from one side of a vessel to the other when the wind is aft or on the quarter. See Gybe.

Jibe, v. i. 1. (Naut.) To change a ship's course so as to cause a shifting of the boom. See Jibe, v. t., and Gybe.

2. To agree; to harmonize. [Colloq.] Bartlett.

Jif"fy (?), n. [Perh. corrupt. fr. gliff.] [Written also giffy.] A moment; an instant; as, I will be ready in a jiffy. [Colloq.] J. & H. Smith.

Jig (?), n. [OF. gigue a stringed instrument, a kind of dance, F. gigue dance, tune, gig; of German origin; cf. MHG. gge fiddle, G. geige. Cf. Gig a fiddle, Gig a whirligig.]

1. (Mus.) A light, brisk musical movement.

Hot and hasty, like a Scotch jig.

Shak.

3. A light, humorous piece of writing, esp. in rhyme; a farce in verse; a ballad. [Obs.]

A jig shall be clapped at, and every rhyme Praised and applauded.

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