Jetsam, jet′sam, n. the throwing of goods overboard to lighten a vessel: the goods so thrown away which remain under water (see Flotsam)—also Jet′som, Jet′son, Jet′tison.—v.t. Jet′tison, to throw overboard, as goods, in time of danger. [Anglo-Fr. jetteson—L. jactation-em, a casting.]
Jetton, jet′on, n. a piece of stamped metal used as a counter in card-playing, &c.
Jetty, jet′i, n. a projection: a kind of pier. [O. Fr. jettée, thrown out. See Jet (2).]
Jew, jōō, n. an inhabitant of Judea: a Hebrew or Israelite: opprobriously used for a usurer, miser, &c.:—fem. Jew′ess.—v.t. and v.i. (coll.) to overreach: cheat.—n. Jew′-bait′ing, the persecuting of Jews.—adj. Jew′ish, belonging to the Jews.—adv. Jew′ishly.—ns. Jew′ishness; Jew's′-ear, a fungus that grows on the elder, and bears some resemblance to the human ear; Jew's' frank′incense, the balsam known as benzoin or gum storax, often used as an incense; Jew's′-harp, a small harp-shaped musical instrument played between the teeth by striking a spring with the finger; Jew's′-mall′ow, a plant much cultivated as a pot-herb by the Jews in Syria; Jew's′-myr′tle, the prickly-leaved plant Ruscus aculeatus; Jew's′-pitch, asphaltum; Jew's′-stone, the fossil spine of a large echinus or sea hedgehog.—Jew's eye, in proverb 'Worth a Jew's eye,' something of high value—from the custom of torturing Jews for money; Jews' houses, in Cornwall, the name given to prehistoric miners' dwellings.—Wandering Jew (see Wander). [O. Fr. Juis—L. Judæus—Gr. Ioudaios—Heb. Yehūdāh, Judah.]
Jewel, jōō′el, n. a precious stone: an ornament of precious stones, worn as a decoration: anything or any one highly valued.—v.t. to dress or adorn with jewels: to fit with a jewel:—pr.p. jew′elling; pa.p. jew′elled, in a watch, having pivot-holes of garnets or any other jewels.—ns. Jew′el-case, a casket for holding jewels; Jew′eller, one who makes or deals in jewels; Jew′ellery, Jew′elry, jewels in general. [O. Fr. jouel (Fr. joyau); either a dim. of Fr. joie, joy, from L. gaudium, joy—gaudēre, to rejoice—or derived through Low L. jocale, from L. jocāri, to jest.]
Jewry, jōō′ri, n. Judea: a district inhabited by Jews.
Jezebel, jez′e-bel, n. a bold and vicious woman, a virago. [From Ahab's wicked wife.]
Jib, jib, n. a triangular sail borne in front of the foremast in a ship, so called from its shifting of itself.—v.t. to shift a boom sail from one tack to the other.—v.i. to move restively.—ns. Jib′-boom, a boom or extension of the bowsprit, on which the jib is spread; Jib′-door, a door flush with the outside wall, intended to be concealed.—The cut of one's jib, appearance. [Dan. gibbe, to jib; cf. Dut. gijpen, to turn suddenly.]
Jibbings, jib′ingz, n.pl. the last milk drawn from a cow.
Jibe. Same as Gibe.