yellow jack

noun

, plural (especially collectively) yel·low jack, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) yel·low jacks

1. Informal. quarantine flag.
2. Pathology. yellow fever.
3. any carangoid fish, especially a Caribbean food fish, Caranx bartholomaei.

yellow jack

noun

1. See yellow fever
   pathol another name for yellow fever
2. See quarantine flag
   another name for quarantine flag
3. any of certain large yellowish carangid food fishes, esp Caranx bartholomaei, of warm and tropical Atlantic waters

Word History and Origins

Origin of yellow jack¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

That fever, “yellow jack” as we used to call it, is truly one of the most dreadful scourges of the West Indies.

From Project Gutenberg

We had not been long in that treacherous clime before “Yellow Jack,” as sailors call the yellow fever, came on board.

From Project Gutenberg

You see, the first symptoms are similar in Yellow Jack and relapsing bilious fever.

From Project Gutenberg

We was twenty-four men down on the Ohio with yellow-jack, and not an ounce of anyskeptics did I swallow!

From Project Gutenberg

Now if we could meet an enemy, and have a good warm engagement, we should soon put Yellow Jack and him to flight together.

From Project Gutenberg