job

n. The hero of the book of that name in the Old Testament; the prototypical patient man. [ 1913 Webster ]

Job's comforter. (a) A false friend; a tactless or malicious person who, under pretense of sympathy, insinuates rebukes. (b) A boil. [ Colloq. ] --
Job's news, bad news. Carlyle. --
Job's tears (Bot.), a kind of grass (Coix Lacryma), with hard, shining, pearly grains. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E. job, gob, n., a small piece of wood, v., to stab, strike; cf. E. gob, gobbet; perh. influenced by E. chop to cut off, to mince. See Gob. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A sudden thrust or stab; a jab. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A piece of chance or occasional work; any definite work undertaken in gross for a fixed price; as, he did the job for a thousand dollars. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A public transaction done for private profit; something performed ostensibly as a part of official duty, but really for private gain; a corrupt official business. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any affair or event which affects one, whether fortunately or unfortunately. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A situation or opportunity of work; as, he lost his job. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A task, or the execution of a task; as, Michelangelo did a great job on the David statue. [ PJC ]

7. (Computers) A task or coordinated set of tasks for a multitasking computer, submitted for processing as a single unit, usually for execution in background. See job control language. [ PJC ]

☞ Job is used adjectively to signify doing jobs, used for jobs, or let on hire to do jobs; as, job printer; job master; job horse; job wagon, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

By the job, at a stipulated sum for the work, or for each piece of work done; -- distinguished from time work; as, the house was built by the job. --
Job lot, a quantity of goods, usually miscellaneous, sold out of the regular course of trade, at a certain price for the whole; as, these articles were included in a job lot. --
Job master, one who lest out horses and carriages for hire, as for family use. [ Eng. ] --
Job printer, one who does miscellaneous printing, esp. circulars, cards, billheads, etc. --
Odd job, miscellaneous work of a petty kind; occasional work, of various kinds, or for various people. --
to do a job on, to harm badly or destroy. [ slang ] --
on the job, alert; performing a responsibility well. [ slang ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Jobbed p. pr. & vb. n. Jobbing. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To strike or stab with a pointed instrument. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To thrust in, as a pointed instrument. Moxon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To do or cause to be done by separate portions or lots; to sublet (work); as, to job a contract. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Com.) To buy and sell, as a broker; to purchase of importers or manufacturers for the purpose of selling to retailers; as, to job goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To hire or let by the job or for a period of service; as, to job a carriage. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To do chance work for hire; to work by the piece; to do petty work. [ 1913 Webster ]

Authors of all work, to job for the season. Moore. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To seek private gain under pretense of public service; to turn public matters to private advantage. [ 1913 Webster ]

And judges job, and bishops bite the town. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To carry on the business of a jobber in merchandise or stocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E. job to scold, to reprove, perh. fr. Job, the proper name. ] A scolding; a hand, tedious reproof. [ Law ] Grose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who works by the job. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A dealer in the public stocks or funds; a stockjobber. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who buys goods from importers, wholesalers, or manufacturers, and sells to retailers. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. One who turns official or public business to private advantage; hence, one who performs low or mercenary work in office, politics, or intrigue. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. jobbernoule, fr. jobarde a stupid fellow; cf. E. noll. ] A blockhead. [ Colloq. & Obs. ] H. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act or practice of jobbing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Underhand management; official corruption; as, municipal jobbery. Mayhew. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Doing chance work or odd jobs; as, a jobbing carpenter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Using opportunities of public service for private gain; as, a jobbing politician. London Sat. Rev. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jobbing house, a mercantile establishment which buys from importers, wholesalers or manufacturers, and sells to retailers. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]