jumping jack

American  

noun

1. a toy consisting of a jointed figure that is made to jump, move, or dance by pulling a string or stick attached to it.

2. Also called side-straddle hop.  a conditioning exercise performed by starting from a standing position with legs together and arms resting at the sides and then jumping to a position with the legs spread apart and out to the sides while simultaneously extending the arms out from the sides to an overhead position with the hands touching and finishing by reversing these movements to return to the starting position.

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jumping jack British  

noun

1. a firework having a long narrow tube filled with gunpowder, folded like an accordion so that when lit it burns with small explosions causing it to jump along the ground

2. a toy figure of a man with jointed limbs that can be moved by pulling attached strings

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Etymology

Origin of jumping jack

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Example Sentences

I feel like doing jumping jacks or a backflip or participating in an ice cream–eating contest.

From Literature

“Simon says, jumping jacks, I don’t care what you call it! Now step aside and let me pass.”

From Literature

From that first night when she shed tears in the bathroom to tears of joy when she successfully did a jumping jack during rehab, it was a struggle of highs and lows.

From Los Angeles Times

And so you can skip that, but I started just using that time to do a quick five push-ups or 10 jumping jacks or something real quick in that time.

From Los Angeles Times

The did everything they used to before going onstage: rounds of jumping jacks, slapping each other in the face to wake up.

From New York Times