Word: blackjack Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *blakaz Proto-West Germanic *blak Old English blæc Middle English blak English black English jack English blackjack From black + jack. Pronunciation: /ˈblækd͡ʒæk/ 1. A common gambling card game in casinos, where the object is to get as close to 21 without going over. Labels: countable, uncountable 2. A hand in the game of blackjack consisting of a face card and an ace. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. A variant of switch where each player is initially dealt the same number of cards, usually seven, and when one player plays a black jack the player whose turn comes next has to pick up that many cards, unless they play a red jack (as this normally cancels a black jack). Labels: countable, uncountable 4. A variant of hearts where the Jack of Spades is the penalty card. Labels: countable, uncountable 5. The flag (i.e., a jack) traditionally flown by pirate ships; popularly thought to be a white skull and crossed bones on a black field (the Jolly Roger). Labels: countable, uncountable 6. A small, flat, blunt, usually leather-covered weapon loaded with heavy material such as lead or ball bearings, intended to inflict a blow to the head that renders the victim unconscious with diminished risk of lasting cranial trauma. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The pain is sometimes like the dull, heavy thud of being hit with a lead-filled blackjack; other times like a wizard is reaching deep below the skin and ripping muscles, tendons, and nerves. 7. A tool of leather filled with shot (or similar), resembling the weapon, used for shaping sheet metal. Labels: countable, uncountable 8. Any of several species of weed of genus Bidens, such as Bidens pilosa, in the family Compositae. Labels: countable, uncountable 9. Ellipsis of blackjack oak. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable Example: A little creek ran through the land, and the prairie rolled a little there, too. Nothing but blackjacks for miles around it, but on that section, because of the water, I suppose, there were elms and persimmons and cottonwoods and even a grove of pecans. Example: A steep slope rose, crested by stunted blackjacks. 10. Any of a series of hard, dark soils, often considered low quality, but suitable for growing certain crops such as cotton. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: This man had a brother about six miles off, settled on a rich White River bottom-land farm -- and while a blackjack clay soil yielded seventy bushels to the acre, this fine bottom-land would not average fifty. Example: Blackjack soil is generally the poorest of all; it covers the narrow and rocky ridges, and has a stunted growth of blackjack and post oaks. The soil is dark in color, thin and cold, and is underlaid with pale yellow or slate-colored clay. 11. Ammonium bituminosulfonate. Labels: Australia, UK, countable, rare, uncountable Example: "Next!" steps gingerly in to confront the medical eye fastened questioningly upon him. "Crook in the guts," he says tersely. The picturesque reports of previously treated and disgusted patients - have left him doubtful, and he casts, an anathematising eye upon the "Black Jack" bottle. "Tabloids and duty!" says the doctor, and the sufferer sighs with relief. Example: I remember Black Jack very well and actually like the smell. It is no longer available with that trade name but glycerine of ichthammol can still be bought in chemists.