=Jacinth.= A precious stone. (See HYACINTH.)
=Jack-boots= (O. E.) were introduced in the 17th century.
=Jackes=, O. E. (1) Towels. (2) The roller for a well-rope.
=Jacket= or =Jack=, =Jerkin=, &c., O. E.; worn over the doublet; but the
names are applied indiscriminately to a great variety of such garments.
=Jacob’s Staff=, O. E. A pilgrim’s staff.
=Jacobus.= An English coin of James I., value 25_s._, weighing 6 dwt. 10
grains. The _Carolus_, a similar coin, value 23_s._, weighed 5 dwt. 20
grains.
=Jaculatores=, R. Soldiers armed with a javelin (_jaculum_), who formed
part of the light troops of the Roman army.
=Jade.= Spanish _piedra de la yjada_. A green stone, closely resembling
jasper, much used by prehistoric man, and to which supernatural virtues
have in all ages been attributed, especially by the ancient Mexicans.
Fine specimens of jades are carved in China, where they are of a whitish
colour, and are called _Yu_. The clear white and green specimens are the
most prized by collectors. (See NEPHRITE, SAUSSURITE.)
=Jagerant.= (See JAZERINE.)
=Jamb=, Arch. The side of any opening in a wall.
=Jambe=, =Gambe=, Her. The leg of a lion or other beast of prey.
=Jambes.= Armour for the legs; 14th century.
=Janua=, R. (_Janus_). The front door of a house opening on the street.
The inner doors were called _ostia_, in the singular _ostium_, while the
city gates were called _portæ_.
=Januales=, =Janualia=, R. Festivals held at Rome, in honour of Janus,
on the first or kalends of January in each year; the offerings consisted
of incense, fruits, and a cake called _janual_.
=Japanese Paper= of a creamy tint is frequently used for proof
impressions of etchings, &c.
=Japanning.= A species of lac-varnishing, in imitation of the lacquered
ware of Japan. (See LAC, LACQUER.)
=Jasper.= A kind of agate, the best known description of which is of a
green colour. Many colours and varieties are used for gem-engraving,
such as agate-jasper, striped jasper, Egyptian red and brown, and
porcelain jasper. In the Christian religion the jasper symbolizes faith;
its hardness expresses the firmness of faith; its opaqueness the
impenetrability of the mysterious.
=Jasponyx.= An onyx mixed with jasper.
=Javelin.= A light hand-spear. (See HASTA.)
=Jayada.= (See VIMANA.)
=Jazel.= A precious stone of an azure blue colour.
=Jazerine= (It. _ghiazerino_). A jacket strengthened with overlapping
plates of steel, covered with velvet or cloth, and sometimes ornamented
with brass; 13th century.
=Jennet.= A Spanish or Barbary horse.
=Jerkin=, O. E. The jerkin was generally worn over the doublet; but
occasionally the doublet was worn alone, and in many instances is
confounded with the jerkin. Either had sleeves or not, as the wearer
pleased.
“My jerkin is a doublet.” (_Shakspeare._)
=Jessant=, Her. Shooting forth, as plants growing out of the earth.
[Illustration: Fig. 404. Jessant-de-lys.]
=Jessant-de-lys=, Her. A combination of a lion’s face and a
fleur-de-lys.
=Jesse=, O. E. A large branched chandelier.
=Jesse, Tree of=, Chr. An ornamental design common in early Christian
art, representing the genealogy of our Lord in the persons of his
ancestors in the flesh.
=Jesseraunt.= (See JAZERINE.)
[Illustration: Fig. 405. Hawk’s bells and Jesses.]
=Jesses.= Straps for hawk’s bells. (See Fig. 405.)
=Jet.= A variety of soft bituminous coal, admitting of a fine polish,
which is used for ornaments. It is, in its natural state, soft and
brittle, of a velvet-black colour, and lustrous. Ornaments of jet are
found in ancient _tumuli_.
=Jet d’Eau=, Fr. A fountain. That at Chatsworth springs 267 feet in the
air, and is the highest in existence.
=Jew’s Harp= or =Jew’s Trump= (from the French _jeu_ and _trompe_). A
small musical instrument, known for centuries all over Europe,
consisting of a metal frame with two branches, and a vibrating tongue of
steel in the middle. It has suggested a number of modern instruments,
including the HARMONIUM.
=Jew’s Pitch.= A kind of _asphaltum_ used as a brown pigment. It
attracts dust, and never dries perfectly.
=Jewes Light=, O. E. (See _Judas Light_.)
=Jogues= or =Yugs=. In Hindoo chronology, eras or periods of years. (1)
The _Suttee Yug_, or age of purity, lasted 3,200,000 years; the life of
man being then 100,000 years, and his stature 21 cubits. (2) The _Tirtar
Yug_, in which one-third of man was corrupted, lasted 2,400,000 years;
the life of man being then 10,000 years. (3) The _Dwapaar Yug_, in which
half the human race became depraved, lasted 1,600,000 years; the life of
man being 1000 years. (4) The _Collee Yug_, in which all mankind are
corrupt, is the present era, ordained to subsist 400,000 years (of which
about 5000 have elapsed); the life of man being limited to 100 years.
There are, however, conflicting accounts of the duration of the
different _Jogues_. (See _Halhed’s Preface to the Gentoo Laws_.)
=Joinery= (in Latin, _intestinum opus_) has to deal with the addition in
a building of all the fixed wood-work necessary for convenience or
ornament. The most celebrated work on the subject is _Nicholson’s
Carpenter’s Guide, and Carpenters and Joiner’s Assistant_, published in
1792. The _modern art_ of joinery properly dates from the introduction
of the geometrical staircase, or stair supported by the wall only, the
first English example of which is said to have been erected by Sir
Christopher Wren in St. Paul’s. [See JOINERY in _Ency. Brit._ 8th ed.]
=Joseph=, O. E. A lady’s riding-habit, buttoned down the front.
=Jousting-helmets= were made wide and large, resting on the shoulders,
and decorated with a crest. It was common to make them of comical,
fantastic designs; such as weathercocks with the points of the compass,
immense figures of birds and beasts, &c.
=Jousts= or =Justs=. Duels in the tilting-ground; generally with blunted
spears, for a friendly trial of skill.
=Jousts à Outrance.= Jousts in which the combatants fought till death
ensued.
=Jousts of Peace= (_hastiludia pacifica_; Fr. _joutes à plaisance_).
These differed from real jousts or tournaments in the strength of the
armour worn, and the weapons used. The lance was topped with a _coronel_
instead of a steel point; the sword was pointless and blunted, being
often of whalebone covered with leather silvered over.
[Illustration: Fig. 406. Chinese vase decorated with signs of
longevity.]
=Jouy= (wishes of good fortune). Chinese porcelain vases so called, used
for birthday and other presents. In the vase represented on Fig. 406,
the handles form the word expressive of the greeting above mentioned.
=Jowlopped=, Her. Having wattles and a comb, as a cock.
=Joys of the Virgin=, Chr. The seven joys and seven sorrows are
frequently painted together in churches. The joys are, (1) The
Annunciation. (2) The Visitation. (3) The Nativity. (4) The Adoration of
the Three Kings. (5) The Presentation in the Temple. (6) The finding of
Christ, by his mother, in the Temple. (7) The Assumption and Coronation
of the Virgin. The seven sorrows are, (1) The prophecy of Simeon. (2)
The Flight into Egypt. (3) The loss of the child in the Temple. (4) The
Betrayal. (5) The Crucifixion. (6) The Deposition from the Cross. (7)
The Ascension.
=Jubé= (Arch. Mod.). A structure of carved stone-work, separating the
chancel from the choir in a church. From this position the daily lessons
were chanted, preceded by the words “_Jube_, Domine, benedicere;” hence
its name. In English it is called indifferently, the rood-loft,
holy-loft, rood-screen, or jubé.
=Jubilee.= (1) Heb. (from _jobel_, a ram’s horn (trumpet); or from
_jabal_, to recall). A Jewish festival celebrated every fifty years,
when slaves were restored to liberty, and exiles recalled. (2) Chr. A
commemoration ceremony at Rome, during which the Pope grants plenary
indulgences; held at irregular intervals.
=Judas Light=, =Judas Candlestick=, =Jewes Light=, O. E. The wooden
imitation of a candlestick which held the Paschal candle.
=Jugalis= (sc. _equus_). A horse harnessed to a yoke (_jugum_), instead
of traces (_funalis_).
=Jugerum.= A Roman superficial measure, 240 feet by 120 feet. In the
original assignment of landed property, two _jugera_ were allotted to
each citizen, as heritable property.
=Jugum= (Gr. ζυγόν). (1) A yoke for draught cattle. (2) Metaphorically,
subjugation—“_sub jugum mittere_” = to pass under the yoke, as nations
conquered by the Romans were made to. This ceremonial yoke was
constructed of a horizontal supported by two upright spears, at such a
height that those passing under it had to stoop the head and shoulders.
(3) In a general sense the word signifies that which joins two things
together, a cross-beam, &c.
=Jugumentum.= Door-head, transverse beam on the uprights (_limen
superius_).
=Jumps=, O. E. (1) A loose bodice for ladies.
“Now a shape in neat stays, now a slattern in jumps:
Now high on French heels, now low in your pumps;
Like the cock on the tower that shews you the weather,
You are hardly the same for two days together.”
(_Universal Magazine_, 1780.)
(2) A jacket or loose coat reaching to the thighs, buttoned down before,
with sleeves to the wrist. A precisely similar lounging-coat, still in
vogue at Cape Colony, is called a _jumper_.
=Junones.= Tutelary genii of women, as the _genii_ were of men. They are
represented as females, clothed in drapery, having bats’ wings.
=Jupon=, Fr. Another name for a _pourpoint_, or close tunic, worn over
the armour by knights in the Middle Ages. (See Fig. 463.)
=Juruparis= (Amer. Indian). A mysterious trumpet of the Indians, an
object of great veneration. Women are never permitted to see it; if any
does so, she is put to death by poison. No youths are allowed to see it
until they have passed through an ordeal of initiatory fastings and
scourgings. It is usually kept hidden in the bed of a stream, deep in
the forest; and no one dares to drink of the water of that stream. It is
brought out and blown at feasts. The inside of the instrument is a tube
made of slips of the Paxiaba palm, wrapped round with long strips of
bark. A specimen is preserved in the museum at Kew Gardens.
=Juvenalia=, R. Scenic games instituted by Nero in commemoration of his
shaving his beard for the first time. They consisted of theatrical
performances in a private theatre erected in a pleasure-ground
(_nemus_). The name was afterwards given to the JANUALIA.