J.
Jacinth. A precious stone. (See Hyacinth.)
Jack-boots (O. E.) were introduced in the 17th century.
Jackes, O. E. (1) Towels. (2) The roller for a well-rope.
Jacket or Jack, Jerkin, &c., O. E.; worn over the doublet; but the names are applied indiscriminately to a great variety of such garments.
Jacob’s Staff, O. E. A pilgrim’s staff.
Jacobus. An English coin of James I., value 25s., weighing 6 dwt. 10 grains. The Carolus, a similar coin, value 23s., weighed 5 dwt. 20 grains.
Jaculatores, R. Soldiers armed with a javelin (jaculum), who formed part of the light troops of the Roman army.
Jade. Spanish piedra de la yjada. A green stone, closely resembling jasper, much used by prehistoric man, and to which supernatural virtues have in all ages been attributed, especially by the ancient Mexicans. Fine specimens of jades are carved in China, where they are of a whitish colour, and are called Yu. The clear white and green specimens are the most prized by collectors. (See Nephrite, Saussurite.)
Jagerant. (See Jazerine.)
Jamb, Arch. The side of any opening in a wall.
Jambe, Gambe, Her. The leg of a lion or other beast of prey.
Jambes. Armour for the legs; 14th century.
Janua, R. (Janus). The front door of a house opening on the street. The inner doors were called ostia, in the singular ostium, while the city gates were called portæ.
Januales, Janualia, R. Festivals held at Rome, in honour of Janus, on the first or kalends of January in each year; the offerings consisted of incense, fruits, and a cake called janual.
Japanese Paper of a creamy tint is frequently used for proof impressions of etchings, &c.
Japanning. A species of lac-varnishing, in imitation of the lacquered ware of Japan. (See Lac, Lacquer.)
Jasper. A kind of agate, the best known description of which is of a green colour. Many colours and varieties are used for gem-engraving, such as agate-jasper, striped jasper, Egyptian red and brown, and porcelain jasper. In the Christian religion the jasper symbolizes faith; its hardness expresses the firmness of faith; its opaqueness the impenetrability of the mysterious.
Jasponyx. An onyx mixed with jasper.
Javelin. A light hand-spear. (See Hasta.)
Jayada. (See Vimana.)
Jazel. A precious stone of an azure blue colour.
Jazerine (It. ghiazerino). A jacket strengthened with overlapping plates of steel, covered with velvet or cloth, and sometimes ornamented with brass; 13th century.
Jennet. A Spanish or Barbary horse.
Jerkin, O. E. The jerkin was generally worn over the doublet; but occasionally the doublet was worn alone, and in many instances is confounded with the jerkin. Either had sleeves or not, as the wearer pleased.
“My jerkin is a doublet.” (Shakspeare.)
Jessant, Her. Shooting forth, as plants growing out of the earth.
Fig. 404. Jessant-de-lys.
Jessant-de-lys, Her. A combination of a lion’s face and a fleur-de-lys.
Jesse, O. E. A large branched chandelier.
Jesse, Tree of, Chr. An ornamental design common in early Christian art, representing the genealogy of our Lord in the persons of his ancestors in the flesh.
Jesseraunt. (See Jazerine.)
Fig. 405. Hawk’s bells and Jesses.
Jesses. Straps for hawk’s bells. (See Fig. [405].)
Jet. A variety of soft bituminous coal, admitting of a fine polish, which is used for ornaments. It is, in its natural state, soft and brittle, of a velvet-black colour, and lustrous. Ornaments of jet are found in ancient tumuli.
Jet d’Eau, Fr. A fountain. That at Chatsworth springs 267 feet in the air, and is the highest in existence.
Jew’s Harp or Jew’s Trump (from the French jeu and trompe). A small musical instrument, known for centuries all over Europe, consisting of a metal frame with two branches, and a vibrating tongue of steel in the middle. It has suggested a number of modern instruments, including the Harmonium.
Jew’s Pitch. A kind of asphaltum used as a brown pigment. It attracts dust, and never dries perfectly.
Jewes Light, O. E. (See Judas Light.)
Jogues or Yugs. In Hindoo chronology, eras or periods of years. (1) The Suttee Yug, or age of purity, lasted 3,200,000 years; the life of man being then 100,000 years, and his stature 21 cubits. (2) The Tirtar Yug, in which one-third of man was corrupted, lasted 2,400,000 years; the life of man being then 10,000 years. (3) The Dwapaar Yug, in which half the human race became depraved, lasted 1,600,000 years; the life of man being 1000 years. (4) The Collee Yug, in which all mankind are corrupt, is the present era, ordained to subsist 400,000 years (of which about 5000 have elapsed); the life of man being limited to 100 years. There are, however, conflicting accounts of the duration of the different Jogues. (See Halhed’s Preface to the Gentoo Laws.)
Joinery (in Latin, intestinum opus) has to deal with the addition in a building of all the fixed wood-work necessary for convenience or ornament. The most celebrated work on the subject is Nicholson’s Carpenter’s Guide, and Carpenters and Joiner’s Assistant, published in 1792. The modern art of joinery properly dates from the introduction of the geometrical staircase, or stair supported by the wall only, the first English example of which is said to have been erected by Sir Christopher Wren in St. Paul’s. [See Joinery in Ency. Brit. 8th ed.]
Joseph, O. E. A lady’s riding-habit, buttoned down the front.
Jousting-helmets were made wide and large, resting on the shoulders, and decorated with a crest. It was common to make them of comical, fantastic designs; such as weathercocks with the points of the compass, immense figures of birds and beasts, &c.
Jousts or Justs. Duels in the tilting-ground; generally with blunted spears, for a friendly trial of skill.
Jousts à Outrance. Jousts in which the combatants fought till death ensued.
Jousts of Peace (hastiludia pacifica; Fr. joutes à plaisance). These differed from real jousts or tournaments in the strength of the armour worn, and the weapons used. The lance was topped with a coronel instead of a steel point; the sword was pointless and blunted, being often of whalebone covered with leather silvered over.
Fig. 406. Chinese vase decorated with signs of longevity.
Jouy (wishes of good fortune). Chinese porcelain vases so called, used for birthday and other presents. In the vase represented on Fig. [406], the handles form the word expressive of the greeting above mentioned.
Jowlopped, Her. Having wattles and a comb, as a cock.
Joys of the Virgin, Chr. The seven joys and seven sorrows are frequently painted together in churches. The joys are, (1) The Annunciation. (2) The Visitation. (3) The Nativity. (4) The Adoration of the Three Kings. (5) The Presentation in the Temple. (6) The finding of Christ, by his mother, in the Temple. (7) The Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin. The seven sorrows are, (1) The prophecy of Simeon. (2) The Flight into Egypt. (3) The loss of the child in the Temple. (4) The Betrayal. (5) The Crucifixion. (6) The Deposition from the Cross. (7) The Ascension.
Jubé (Arch. Mod.). A structure of carved stone-work, separating the chancel from the choir in a church. From this position the daily lessons were chanted, preceded by the words “Jube, Domine, benedicere;” hence its name. In English it is called indifferently, the rood-loft, holy-loft, rood-screen, or jubé.
Jubilee. (1) Heb. (from jobel, a ram’s horn (trumpet); or from jabal, to recall). A Jewish festival celebrated every fifty years, when slaves were restored to liberty, and exiles recalled. (2) Chr. A commemoration ceremony at Rome, during which the Pope grants plenary indulgences; held at irregular intervals.
Judas Light, Judas Candlestick, Jewes Light, O. E. The wooden imitation of a candlestick which held the Paschal candle.
Jugalis (sc. equus). A horse harnessed to a yoke (jugum), instead of traces (funalis).
Jugerum. A Roman superficial measure, 240 feet by 120 feet. In the original assignment of landed property, two jugera were allotted to each citizen, as heritable property.
Jugum (Gr. ζυγόν). (1) A yoke for draught cattle. (2) Metaphorically, subjugation—“sub jugum mittere” = to pass under the yoke, as nations conquered by the Romans were made to. This ceremonial yoke was constructed of a horizontal supported by two upright spears, at such a height that those passing under it had to stoop the head and shoulders. (3) In a general sense the word signifies that which joins two things together, a cross-beam, &c.
Jugumentum. Door-head, transverse beam on the uprights (limen superius).
Jumps, O. E. (1) A loose bodice for ladies.
“Now a shape in neat stays, now a slattern in jumps:
Now high on French heels, now low in your pumps;
Like the cock on the tower that shews you the weather,
You are hardly the same for two days together.”
(Universal Magazine, 1780.)
(2) A jacket or loose coat reaching to the thighs, buttoned down before, with sleeves to the wrist. A precisely similar lounging-coat, still in vogue at Cape Colony, is called a jumper.
Junones. Tutelary genii of women, as the genii were of men. They are represented as females, clothed in drapery, having bats’ wings.
Jupon, Fr. Another name for a pourpoint, or close tunic, worn over the armour by knights in the Middle Ages. (See Fig. [463].)
Juruparis (Amer. Indian). A mysterious trumpet of the Indians, an object of great veneration. Women are never permitted to see it; if any does so, she is put to death by poison. No youths are allowed to see it until they have passed through an ordeal of initiatory fastings and scourgings. It is usually kept hidden in the bed of a stream, deep in the forest; and no one dares to drink of the water of that stream. It is brought out and blown at feasts. The inside of the instrument is a tube made of slips of the Paxiaba palm, wrapped round with long strips of bark. A specimen is preserved in the museum at Kew Gardens.
Juvenalia, R. Scenic games instituted by Nero in commemoration of his shaving his beard for the first time. They consisted of theatrical performances in a private theatre erected in a pleasure-ground (nemus). The name was afterwards given to the Janualia.