Jacintha, the wealthy ward of Mr. Strickland; in love with Bellamy. Jacintha is staid but resolute, and though “she elopes down a ladder of rope” in boy’s costume, has plenty of good sense and female modesty.—Dr. Hoadly, The Suspicious Husband (1747).
Jack (Colonel), the hero of Defoe’s novel entitled The History of the Most Remarkable Life and Extraordinary Adventures of the truly Hon. Colonel Jacque, vulgarly called Colonel Jack. The colonel (born a gentleman and bred a pick-pocket) goes to Virginia, and passes through all the stages of colonial life, from that of “slavie” to that of an owner of slaves and plantation.
The transition from their refined Oron´datês and Stati´ras, to the society of Captain [sic] Jack and Moll Flanders...is (to use a phrase of Sterne) like turning from Alexander the Great to Alexander the coppersmith.—Encyc. Brit., Art. “Romance.”
Jack Amend-all, a nickname given to Jack Cade, the rebel, who promised to remedy all abuses (*-1450).[(*-1450).] As a specimen of his reforms, take the following examples:—
I, your captain, am brave, and vow reformation. There shall be in England seven half-penny loaves sold for a penny, the three hooped pot shall have ten hoops; and I will make it felony to drink small beer.... When I am king, there shall be no money; all shall eat and drink on my score; and I will apparel all in one livery.—Shakespeare, 2 Henry VI. act iv. sc. 2 (1591).
Jack Hamlin. Professional gambler and lady-killer, has an engagement to elope with the wife of Brown, of Calaveras. Brown, ignorant of the friend’s treachery, confides to him his love for the woman who, he knows, is preparing to leave him with “somebody.” Moved by the man’s distress, Jack takes horse and rides away alone.—Bret Harte, Luck of Roaring Camp, etc. (1872).
Jack and Jill, said to be the Saxon and Norman stocks united.
Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water;
Jack fell down and cracked his crown,