jacks

British  

/ dʒæks /

noun

1. Sometimes called: knucklebones.  (functioning as singular) a game in which bone, metal, or plastic pieces ( jackstones ) are thrown and then picked up in various groups between bounces or throws of a small ball

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Etymology

Origin of jacks

C19: shortened from jackstones , variant of checkstones pebbles

Explanation

Jacks is a children's game in which you bounce a small ball and quickly scoop up game pieces. There's evidence that some form of jacks was even played in ancient Greece. Jacks goes by many names, including "knucklebones" and "fivestones." The original version was played with small stones, which were closely related to dice, and invented around the same time. In modern jacks, a player drops ten metal star-shaped pieces and then tries to scoop them up — first one at a time, then two at a time, and so on — after bouncing a ball, which is then caught before it hits the ground.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jacks

But some opt for less physically demanding escapism in the form of "congklak" -- a counting game using seeds or stones -- or "bola bekel", similar to jacks.

From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026

Union jacks hang from lampposts - this was one of the first areas in England to see that trend emerge.

From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026

That includes Iran, which is straining under a historic drought made worse by years of mismanagement, while climate change jacks up temperatures and reduces rainfall.

From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2026

Watching young Reiner play jacks in the living room, he thought the kid was hilarious.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2025

My friendship with Louise was solidified over jacks, hopscotch and confessions, deep and dark, exchanged often after many a “Cross your heart you won’t tell?”

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou