English

Noun

jumping-jack ‎(plural jumping-jacks)

1. A toy figure with jointed limbs that can be made to dance by pulling an attached string.
   • William James, Are We Automata?

     In the beheaded frog the legs twitch as fatally when we touch the skin with acid as do a jumping-jack's when we pull the string.

   • 1904 - L. Frank Baum, The Marvelous Land of Oz, chapter 13

     "Because you are built as absurdly as a jumping-jack," sneered the horse, rolling his knotty eyes in a vicious manner. "Even your head won't stay straight, and you never can tell whether you are looking backwards or forwards!"

   • 1904 - Stratemeyer Syndicate, The Bobbsey Twins, Or, Merry Days Indoors and Out, chapter14

     "I have a jumping-jack!" came from Freddie, and he began to work the toy up and down in a most comical fashion.

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