Emily Dickinson Lexicon

JEOP'ARD-OUS, a. [jep'ardous.]

Exposed to danger; perilous; hazardous.

JEOP'ARD-OUS-LY, adv. [jep'ardously.]

With risk or danger.

JEOP'ARD-Y, n. [jep'ardy; The origin of this word is not settled. Some authors suppose it to be Fr. j'ai perdu, I have lost, or jeu perdu, a lost game. Tyrwhitt supposes it to be jeu parti, an even game, or game in which the chances are even. “Si nous les voyons à jeu parti.” If we see them at an even game. Froissart, vol. i, c. 234. But jeopardy may be corrupted from the G. gefahr, danger, hazard; gefährden, to hazard, to jeopard. See Fare.]

Exposure to death, loss or injury; hazard; danger; peril. They were filled with water and were in jeopardy. – Luke viii.

JER'BO-A, n.

A quadruped having very short fore legs. All of the species of that genus of mammals which is named Dipus, are called Jerboa in English.

JER-E-MI'ADE, n. [from Jeremiah, the prophet.]

Lamentation; a tale of grief, sorrow or complaint.

JERK, n.

1. A short sudden thrust, push, or twitch; a striking against something with a short quick motion; as, a jerk of the elbow. His jade gave him a jerk. – B. Jonson.
2. A sudden spring. Lobsters swim by jerks. – Grew.

JERK, v.t.¹ [This is probably the Ch. Heb. ירק, to reach, to spit, that is, to throw out with a sudden effort, Sax. hraecan, herca. If not, I know not its origin or affinities. It seems to be a different orthography of yerk.]

1. To thrust out; to thrust with a sudden effort; to give sudden pull, twitch, thrust or push; as, to jerk one under the ribs; to jerk one with the elbow.
2. To throw with a quick, smart motion; as, to jerk a stone. We apply this word to express the mode of throwing to little distance by drawing the arm back of the body, and thrusting it forward against the side or hip, which stops the arm suddenly.

JERK, v.t.²

To accost eagerly. [Not in use.] – Dryden

JERK'ED, a.

Cut into pieces and dried; as, jerked beef.

JERK'ED, pp.

Twitched; pulled with a sudden effort.

JERK'IN, n.

1. A jacket; a short coat; a close waistcoat. – Shak. South.
2. A kind of hawk. – Ainsworth.

JERK'ING, ppr.

Thrusting with a jerk.

JER'SEY, n. [from the island so called.]

1. Fine yarn of wool. – Johnson
2. The finest of wool separated from the rest; combed wool. – Bailey. Encyc.

JE-RU'SA-LEM-AR'TI-CHOKE, n. [JE-RU'SA-LEM AR'TI-CHOKE; In this name the word Jerusalem is a mere corruption of the Italian Girasóle, i. e. sunflower, or turnsole.]

The name of a plant. Originally applied to certain species of Heliotropium, but now to the Helianthus tuberosum of Brazil, cultivated in Europe and the United States.

JER'VI-NA, n. [Sp. jerva, the poison of the Veratrum album.]

An alkaloid obtained from the root of Veratrum album.

JESS, n.

1. Short straps of leather tied round the legs of a hawk, by which she is held on the fist. – Hanmer.
2. A ribin that hangs down from a garland or crown in falconry. – Encyc.

JES'SA-MIN, n.

The popular name of certain species of Jasminum, a genus of plants. See Jasmin.]

JES'SE, n.

A large brass candlestick branched into many sconces, hanging down in the middle of a church or choir. – Cowel.

JESS'ED, a.

Having jesses on; a term in heraldry.

JEST, n. [Sp. and Port. chiste, a witty saying, a jest or joke; chistoso, gay, facetious; allied perhaps to L. gestio.]

1. A joke; something ludicrous uttered and meant only to excite laughter. Religion should never be the subject of jest.
2. The object of laughter or sport; a laughing-stock. 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.
3. A mask.
4. A deed; an action. [Obs.]

JEST, v.i.

1. To divert or make merry by words or actions; to joke. Jest not with a rude man, lest thy ancestors be disgraced. – Eccles.
2. To utter in sport; to say what is not true, merely for diversion.
3. To play a part in a mask. – Shak.

JEST'ED, pp.

Joked; talked for merriment.

JEST'ER, n.

1. A person given to jesting, sportive talk and merry pranks. He rambled up and down / With shallow jesters. – Shak.
2. One given to sarcasm. Now, as a jester, I accost you. – Swift.
3. A buffoon; a merry-andrew, person formerly retained by princes to make sport for them.

JEST'FUL, a.

Given to jesting; full of jokes. – Brown.

JEST'ING, n.

A joking; concise wit; wit that consists in a trope or verbal figure, in a metaphorical sense of words, or in a double sense of the same word, or in similitude of sound in different words. – Encyc.