jackal
[ jak-uh l, -awl ]
/ ˈdʒæk əl, -ɔl /
noun
any of several nocturnal wild dogs of the genus Canis, especially C. aureus, of Asia and Africa, that scavenge or hunt in packs.
a person who performs dishonest or base deeds as the follower or accomplice of another.
a person who performs menial or degrading tasks for another.
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RELATED WORDS
medium, accessory, go-between, stooge, pawn, minion, agent, dupe, puppet, accomplice, idiot, patsy, mark, messenger, intermediary, creature, sucker, hireling, figurehead, chump
Nearby words
jack-tar, jack-the-lad, jack-the-rags, jack-up, jack-up rig, jackal, jackanapes, jackaroo, jackass, jackass bark, jackass brig
Origin of jackal
1595–1605; < alteration, by association with Jack, of Persian shag(h)āl; cognate with Sanskrit śṛgāla
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for jackal
British Dictionary definitions for jackal
jackal
/ (ˈdʒækɔːl) /
noun
any of several African or S Asian canine mammals of the genus Canis, closely related to the dog, having long legs and pointed ears and muzzle: predators and carrion-eaters
a person who does menial tasks for another
a villain, esp a swindler
Word Origin for jackal
C17: from Turkish chakāl, from Persian shagāl, from Sanskrit srgāla
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for jackal
jackal
c.1600, from Turkish çakal, from Persian shaghal, from or cognate with Sanskrit srgala-s, literally "the howler." Figurative sense of "skulking henchman" is from the old belief that jackals stirred up game for lions.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper