n. [ Amer. Sp., fr. Mex. xacalli. ] In Mexico and the southwestern United States, a kind of plastered house or hut, usually made by planting poles or timber in the ground, filling in between them with screen work or wickerwork, and daubing one or both sides with mud or adobe mortar; also, this method of construction. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. jacamar, Braz. jacamarica; cf. Sp. jacamar. ] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of tropical American birds of the genus Galbula and allied genera. They are allied to the kingfishers, but climb on tree trunks like nuthatches, and feed upon insects. Their colors are often brilliant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Sp. jacania. ] (Zool.) Any of several wading birds belonging to the genus Jacana and several allied genera, all of which have spurs on the wings. They are able to run about over floating water weeds by means of their very long, spreading toes. Called also surgeon bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The most common South American species is Jacana spinosa. The East Indian or pheasant jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is remarkable for having four very long, curved, middle tail feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Braz.; cf. Sp. & Pg. jacaranda. ] (Bot.) (a) The native Brazilian name for certain leguminous trees, which produce the beautiful woods called king wood, tiger wood, and violet wood. (b) A genus of bignoniaceous Brazilian trees with showy trumpet-shaped flowers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pg. jacaré; of Brazilian origin. ] (Zool.) A cayman. See Yacare. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., fr. L. Jacchus a mystic name of Bacchus, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Zool.) The common marmoset (Hapale vulgaris). Formerly, the name was also applied to other species of the same genus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Jaconet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. jacens, p. pr. of jacere to lie: cf. F. jacent. ] Lying at length; as, the jacent posture. [ R. ] Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. jacinthe, L. hyacinthus. See Hyacinth. ] See Hyacinth. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To hunt game at night by means of a jack. See 2d Jack, n., 4, n. [ 1913 Webster ]