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supplejack

[suhp-uh l-jak]
noun
  1. a strong, pliant cane or walking stick.
  2. any of various climbing shrubs with strong stems suitable for making walking sticks.
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Origin of supplejack

First recorded in 1715–25; supple + jack1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for supplejack

Historical Examples

  • The Supplejack had her lower yards across, and most of her stores on board.

    The Three Lieutenants

    W.H.G. Kingston

  • The Supplejack was making the best of her way across the Caribbean sea.

    The Three Lieutenants

    W.H.G. Kingston

  • Two steamers at last arrived, the second came to relieve the Supplejack.

    The Three Lieutenants

    W.H.G. Kingston

  • Many were wounded, and seven dead bodies were carried in on hastily made litters of supplejack vines lashed to poles.

  • As the Supplejack was likely to be inside of her, there was every probability of her being caught by one or the other.

    The Three Lieutenants

    W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for supplejack

supplejack

noun
  1. a North American twining rhamnaceous woody vine, Berchemia scandens, that has greenish-white flowers and purple fruits
  2. a liliaceous plant of New Zealand, Ripogonum scandens, having tough climbing vines
  3. a tropical American woody sapindaceous vine, Paullinia curassavica, having strong supple wood
  4. any of various other vines with strong supple stems
  5. US a walking stick made from the wood of Paullinia curassavica
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Word Origin

C18: from supple + jack 1
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