blackjack

[blak-jak]

noun

1. Cards.

   1. Also called twenty-one. 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.

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 a large drinking cup or jug for beer, ale, etc., originally made of leather coated externally with tar.

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 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

²

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. pontoon or any of various similar card games

2. the ace of spades

blackjack

³

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

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

blackjack

⁴

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

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

blackjack

⁵

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. a tarred leather tankard or jug

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 (implement)

Origin of blackjack²

C20: from _black + _jack ¹ (the knave)

Origin of blackjack³

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

Origin of blackjack⁴

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

Origin of blackjack⁵

C16: from _black + _jack ³

Example Sentences

The space will house more than 2,000 slot machines; live table games of blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em and three-card poker; and rooms for exclusive games.

From Los Angeles Times

Or will he, as anyone who roots for American literature might devoutly wish, hold out for blackjack?

From Los Angeles Times

And there was the casino, where he played blackjack — after losing $1,000 at the baccarat table — because he preferred the lower-stakes game.

From Los Angeles Times

But unlike blackjack, global markets are affected by all kinds of forces — climate change, politics and policies and pandemics are a few.

From Salon

He congratulated me, his amusement evident, and let me teach him blackjack while we waited.

From Los Angeles Times