blackjack

[ blak-jak ]

noun

1. Cards.
   1. Also called twen·ty-one [twen, -tee-, wuhn, twuhn, -]. a gambling game in which the object is to obtain from the dealer cards whose values add up to, or close to, 21 but do not exceed it.
   2. a variety of this game in which any player can become dealer.
   3. Also called natural. (in the game of blackjack) an ace together with a ten or a face card as the first two cards dealt.
2. a short, leather-covered club, consisting of a heavy head on a flexible handle, used as a weapon.
3. black flag ( defs 1, 2 ).
4. a small oak, Quercus marilandica, of the eastern United States, having a nearly black bark and a wood of little value except for fuel.
5. a large drinking cup or jug for beer, ale, etc., originally made of leather coated externally with tar. Compare bombard ( def 7 ).
6. caramel or burnt sugar for coloring spirits, vinegar, coffee, etc.
7. Mineralogy. a dark, iron-rich variety of sphalerite.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or beat with a blackjack.
2. to compel by threat.

blackjack

¹

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. a small oak tree, Quercus marilandica , of the southeastern US, with blackish bark and fan-shaped leaves Also calledblackjack oak

blackjack

²

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. a truncheon of leather-covered lead with a flexible shaft

verb

1. tr to hit with or as if with a blackjack
2. tr to compel (a person) by threats

blackjack

³

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. pontoon or any of various similar card games
2. the ace of spades

blackjack

⁴

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. a tarred leather tankard or jug

blackjack

⁵

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. a dark iron-rich variety of the mineral sphalerite

Word History and Origins

Origin of blackjack¹

First recorded in 1505–15; black + jack ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of blackjack¹

C19: from black + jack ¹(from the proper name, popularly used in many plant names)

Origin of blackjack²

C19: from black + jack ¹(implement)

Origin of blackjack³

C20: from black + jack ¹(the knave)

Origin of blackjack⁴

C16: from black + jack ³

Origin of blackjack⁵

C18: from black + jack ¹(originally a miner's name for this useless ore)

Example Sentences

The shindig at first seemed like any other Hispanic chamber of commerce event, with people handing me business cards like dealers at a blackjack table.

From Los Angeles Times

They heard that two incarcerated Black men were forced to beat Ms. Hamer with a blackjack until they physically couldn’t; in the same jail where Medgar Evers was murdered.

From Salon

They tried their luck at blackjack and roulette and made conversation with a cocktail server who had worked there for 25 years.

From Seattle Times

The retired Las Vegas blackjack dealer plans to vote for Biden, though she said she usually supports Republicans for the White House.

From Los Angeles Times

The challenged California law bans the possession, manufacture, importation or sale of “any leaded cane, or any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a billy, blackjack, sandbag, sandclub, sap, or slungshot.”

From Seattle Times