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mbrane. See Retina. -- Jacob's staff. (a) A name given to many forms of staff or weapon, especially in the Middle Ages; a pilgrim's staff. [Obs.] Spenser. (b) (Surveying) See under Staff.

A kind of prison; a building for the confinement of persons held in lawful custody, especially for minor offenses or with reference to some future judicial proceeding. [Written also gaol.] This jail I count the house of liberty. Milton. Jail bird, a prisoner; one who has been confined in prison. [Slang] - - Jail delive…

The writer of the passages of the Old Testament, especially those of the Pentateuch, in which the Supreme Being is styled Jehovah. See Elohist. The characteristic manner of the Jehovist differs from that of his predecessor [the Elohist]. He is fuller and freer in his descriptions; more reflective in his assignment of m…

or containing, Jehovah, as a name of God; -- said of certain parts of the Old Testament, especially of the Pentateuch, in which Jehovah appears as the name of the Deity. See Elohistic.

A coachman; a driver; especially, one who drives furiously. [Colloq.]

A blunt javelin used by the people of the Levant, especially in mock fights. [Written also jerreed, jerid.] Byron.

To take part in a merrymaking; -- especially, to act in a mask or interlude. [Obs.] Shak.

A stream of water spouting from a fountain or pipe (especially from one arranged to throw water upward), in a public place or in a garden, for ornament.

A correspondence of sound in rhymes, especially when the verse has little merit; hence, the verse itself." The least jingle of verse." Guardian. Jingle shell. See Gold shell (b), under Gold.

A plane for smoothing the surfaces of pieces which are to be accurately joined; especially:

To jolt; to shake, especially by rough riding or by driving over obstructions.

To utter a sound resembling this word, as certain birds do, especially the nightingale.

(fruits) of several Mediterranean and African species small trees, of the genus Zizyphus, especially the Z. jujuba, Z. vulgaris, Z. mucronata, and Z. Lotus. The last named is thought to have furnished the lotus of the ancient Libyan Lotophagi, or lotus eaters. Jujube paste, the dried or inspissated jelly of the jujube;…

A beast; especially, a beast of burden. [Obs.] Fitter for juments than men to feed on. Burton.

One who professes the science of law; one versed in the law, especially in the civil law; a writer on civil and international law. It has ever been the method of public jurists to Burke.

A New Zealand parrot of the genus Nestor, especially the brown parrot (Nestor meridionalis).

securest part of a castle, often used as a place of residence by the lord of the castle, especially during a siege; the donjon. See Illust. of Castle. The prison strong, Within whose keep the captive knights were laid. Dryden. The lower chambers of those gloomy keeps. Hallam. I think . . . the keep, or principal part…

Cognizance; view; especially, reach of sight or knowledge. "Beyond his ken." Longfellow. Above the reach and ken of a mortal apprehension. South. It was relief to quit the ken And the inquiring looks of men. Trench.

Suitable to be written upon; capable of being written upon, as a slate; -- said especially of a certain kind of globe. Scudamore.

T. Carolinensis), noted for its courage in attacking larger birds, even hawks and eagles, especially when they approach its nest in the breeding season. It is a typical tyrant flycatcher, taking various insects upon the wing. It is dark ash above, and blackish on the bead and tail. The quills and wing coverts are whiti…