J.
JACK. See [Gin].
Jack-boots. Boots formerly worn by cavalry, made of thick firm leather, hardened in a peculiar manner, that is by a mixture of rosin, pitch, and oil, applied before a fire until they become stiff and impervious to water. They were sometimes lined with plates of iron. The best infantry caps are jacked leather.
Jack wambasium, a sort of coat armor, formerly worn by horsemen, not of solid iron but of many plates fastened together, which some persons by tenure were bound to find upon any invasion.
JACKET, a short coat. See [Clothing].
JACOB’S staff, a mathematical instrument for taking heights and distances, called also a cross staff.
JACQUE, ou JAQUE, Fr. a sort of close jacket, which was formerly worn by the francs-archers, or free archers, and reached down to the knee. These jackets were stuffed underneath the linen or cloth with which they were made. They sometimes consisted of leather, lined with 20 or 30 pieces of old cloth, rather loosely put together. The ancient horsemen wore these jackets under their coats of mail, and they were called gobison.
JADE, Fr. a very hard stone, of an olive color, with which the handles of swords and sabres are made in Poland and Turkey. This stone is said to possess wonderful virtues for the removal of the gravel or nephritic cholic; in these cases it is simply applied to the loins.
JAFFURNAPATAM. The town of Ceylon is so called by the Indians. The port of Jaffur.
JAGURNHAUT, Ind. a Hindoo pagoda, on the Balasore coast, bay of Bengal.