Jer"ry-built` (?), a. Built hastily and of bad materials; as,
jerry-built houses. [Colloq. Eng.]
Jer"sey (?), n.; pl. Jerseys (#). [From Jersey, the largest of the
Channel Islands.]
1. The finest of wool separated from the rest; combed wool; also, fine
yarn of wool.
2. A kind of knitted jacket; hence, in general, a closefitting jacket
or upper garment made of an elastic fabric (as stockinet).
3. One of a breed of cattle in the Island of Jersey. Jerseys are noted
for the richness of their milk.
Je*ru"sa*lem (j*r"s*lm), n. [Gr. 'Ieroysalh`m, fr. Heb. Yrshlaim.] The
chief city of Palestine, intimately associated with the glory of the
Jewish nation, and the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Jerusalem artichoke [Perh. a corrupt. of It. girasole i.e., sunflower,
or turnsole. See Gyre, Solar.] (Bot.) (a) An American plant, a
perennial species of sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus), whose tubers are
sometimes used as food. (b) One of the tubers themselves. -- Jerusalem
cherry (Bot.), the popular name of either of two species of Solanum (S.
Pseudo- capsicum and S. capsicastrum), cultivated as ornamental house
plants. They bear bright red berries of about the size of cherries. --
Jerusalem oak (Bot.), an aromatic goosefoot (Chenopodium Botrys),
common about houses and along roadsides. -- Jerusalem sage (Bot.), a
perennial herb of the Mint family (Phlomis tuberosa). -- Jerusalem
thorn (Bot.), a spiny, leguminous tree (Parkinsonia aculeata), widely
dispersed in warm countries, and used for hedges. -- The New Jerusalem,
Heaven; the Celestial City.
Jer"vine (?), n. [Prob. fr. Sp. yerba herb, OSp., the poison of the
veratrum.] (Chem.) A poisonous alkaloid resembling veratrine, and found
with it in white hellebore (Veratrum album); -- called also jervina.
Jess (?), n.; pl. Jesses (#). [OF. gies, giez, prop. pl. of giet, get,
jet, F. jet, a throwing, jess. See Jet a shooting forth.] (falconry) A
short strap of leather or silk secured round the leg of a hawk, to
which the leash or line, wrapped round the falconer's hand, was
attached when used. See Illust. of Falcon.
Like a hawk, which feeling freed From bells and jesses which did
let her flight.
Spenser.
Jes"sa*mine (?), n. (Bot.) Same as Jasmine.
Jes"sant (?), a. (Her.) Springing up or emerging; -- said of a plant or
animal.
Jes"se (?), n. [LL. Jesse, the father of David, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. Herb.
Yishai.] Any representation or suggestion of the genealogy of Christ,
in decorative art; as: (a) A genealogical tree represented in stained
glass. (b) A candlestick with many branches, each of which bears the
name of some one of the descendants of Jesse; -- called also tree of
Jesse.
Jesse window (Arch.), a window of which the glazing and tracery
represent the tree of Jesse.
Jessed (?), a. (Her.) Having jesses on, as a hawk.
Jest (?), n. [OE. jeste, geste, deed, action, story, tale, OF. geste,
LL. gesta, orig., exploits, neut. pl. from L. gestus, p. p. of gerere
to bear, carry, accomplish, perform; perh. orig., to make to come,
bring, and perh. akin to E. come. Cf. Gest a deed, Register, n.]