1765. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, i. 65. When his companions drank to Hans in Kelder, or Jack in the Low Cellar.
Jack-in-the-dust, subs. (nautical).—A steward's mate.
Jack-in-the-green, subs. (common).—A chimney-sweep enclosed in a portable framework of boughs for the processions on the first of May: now mainly a thing of the past.
Jack-in-the-pulpit, subs. A pretender; an upstart; a Jack-in-office (q.v.).
Jack-in-the-water, subs. (common).—An odd or handy man at a boat-house or landing stage: also jack (q.v. sense 10).
Jack-of-all-trades, subs. (common).—One who can (or pretends to be able to) turn his hand to any business: now usually in contempt, as 'Jack-of-all-trades and master of none'.
c. 1633. Lady Alimony, iv. 2. What else, you Jack-of-all-trades?
c. 1636. London Chanticleers, Sc. ii. Any old pots or kettles to mend? Will you buy my ballads? Or have you any corns on your feet-toes? Nay, I am Jack-of-all-trades now.
1662. Rump Songs, i. 193. For where Sir John with jack-of-all-trades joyns His finger's thicker than the prelates' loyns.
1675. Cotton, Scoffer Scofft, in Wks. (1725), p. 229. An then, thy son, that hopeful piece, Apollo, Jack-of-all-trades is.
1698-1700. Ward, London Spy, III, 59. He is by his Profession a Labourer to a Physician, but has made himself, by a curious inspection into Mysteries of Universallity a jack of all Trades.
1857. Hood, Pen and Pencil Pictures, 138. A jack-of-all-trades and master of none was Panurgus Pebbles . . . his shallow versatility was his bane.
1860. Dickens, Great Expectations, xxv. 'I am my own engineer, and my own carpenter, and my own plumber, and my own gardener, and my own jack of all trades.'
Jack-of-legs, subs. (old).—1. An extra tall man; a lamp-post (q.v.).
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lex. Bal. s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
2. (old).—A large clasp knife. See jocteleg.
Jack-on-both-sides, subs. (old).—A neutral: also one who 'hunts with the hounds and runs with the hare'; a fence-rider (q.v.).
1594. Nashe, Terrors of the Night, in Works [Grosart, 1885, iii. 252]. Like a craftie jacke a both sides.
1654. Witts Recreations [quoted by Nares]. Reader, John Newter, who erst plaid, The jack on both sides, here is laid.
1662. Rump Songs, i. 140. Did I a factious covenant, subscribe, Or turn a jack-on-both-Sides for a tribe?
Jack-out-of-doors, subs. (old).—A vagrant.
1634. Withal, Dict., p. 569. Neque pessimus neque primus: not altogether jack out of doores, and yet no gentleman.
Jack-out-of-office, subs. (old).—A discharged official: in derision.
1592. Shakspeare, 1 Henry VI, i. 1. But long I will not be jack-out-of-office.
1606. Rich, Farewell to Militarie Profession [quoted by nares]. For liberalitie, who was wont to be a principall officer . . . is tourned Jacke out of office, and others appointed to have the custodie.
1611. Davies (of Hereford), Scourge of Folly, in Works [Grosart, 1878, ii. 41]. He's iacke out of office that John was in it.
