blackjack

Etymology

* black + jack

noun

1. (card games) A common gambling card game in casinos, where the object is to get as close to 21 without going over.
2. (card games) A hand in the game of blackjack consisting of a face card and an ace.
3. (card games) A variant of switch where each player is initially dealt the same number of cards, usually seven, and when one player plays a black jack the player whose turn comes next has to pick up that many cards, unless they play a red jack (as this normally cancels a black jack).
4. The flag (i.e., a jack) traditionally flown by pirate ships; popularly thought to be a white skull and crossed bones on a black field (the Jolly Roger).
5. (weaponry) A small, flat, blunt, usually leather-covered weapon loaded with heavy material such as lead or ball bearings, intended to inflict a blow to the head that renders the victim unconscious with diminished risk of lasting cranial trauma.
   The pain is sometimes like the dull, heavy thud of being hit with a lead-filled blackjack; other times like a wizard is reaching deep below the skin and ripping muscles, tendons, and nerves. 2016, Justin O. Schmidt, The Sting of the Wild, Johns Hopkins University Press,, page 131
6. (aviation) A tool of leather filled with shot (or similar), resembling the weapon, used for shaping sheet metal.
7. Any of several species of weed of genus Bidens, such as Bidens pilosa, in the family Compositae.
8. A blackjack oak.
   A steep slope rose, crested by stunted blackjacks. 1931, William Faulkner, Sanctuary, Library of America, published 1985, page 20
9. Any of a series of hard, dark soils, often considered low quality, but suitable for growing certain crops such as cotton.
   This man had a brother about six miles off, settled on a rich White River bottom-land farm -- and while a blackjack clay soil yielded seventy bushels to the acre, this fine bottom-land would not average fifty. 1859, Henry Ward Beecher, Plain and Pleasant Talk about Fruits, Flowers, and Farming, page 216
   Blackjack soil is generally the poorest of all; it covers the narrow and rocky ridges, and has a stunted growth of blackjack and post oaks. The soil is dark in color, thin and cold, and is underlaid with pale yellow or slate-colored clay. 1884, United States Census Office, Census Reports: Tenth Census: June 1, 1880: Cotton production in the United States, page 20
   The predominant soil is the blackjack soil like that of the lower plateaus, seemingly, however, in most cases a little more sandy and a little coarser in grain. 1911, Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils, page 1871
   Today, most types of land development in areas underlain by Iredell and related “blackjack” soil series—a catch-all term for Jackland, Whitestore, Orange, Zion, and other high shrink-swell clayey soils—is generally discouraged. 2010, Gary Mark Fleeger, Steven J. Whitmeyer, The Mid-Atlantic Shore to the Appalachian Highlands: Field Trip Guidebook for the 2010 Joint Meeting of the Northeastern and Southeastern GSA Sections, Geological Society of America, page 48
   Cotton grew robustly in western Cabarrus County's blackjack soil, pointing Concord beyond its agricultural base toward its first industry: textiles. 2011, Michael Eury, Concord, Arcadia Publishing
10. (pharmacology, UK, Australia, rare) Ammonium bituminosulfonate.
    "Next!" steps gingerly in to confront the medical eye fastened questioningly upon him. "Crook in the guts," he says tersely. The picturesque reports of previously treated and disgusted patients - have left him doubtful, and he casts, an anathematising eye upon the "Black Jack" bottle. "Tabloids and duty!" says the doctor, and the sufferer sighs with relief. 11 Oct 1914, The Sunday Times, Perth, Australia, page 1, column 9
    I remember Black Jack very well and actually like the smell. It is no longer available with that trade name but glycerine of ichthammol can still be bought in chemists. 2010-10-19, John Davies, birminghamhistory.co.uk
    Used to be called Black Jack think my mom had an ancient jar in her medicine cupboard. 2008-09-19, stef240377, MoneySavingExpert.com

verb

1. To strike with a blackjack or similar weapon.
   We cannot have you getting blackjacked and bound yet again. 2019, Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Water Dancer, Penguin Books (2020), page 233