jumping jack

noun

a toy consisting of a jointed figure that is made to jump, move, or dance by pulling a string or stick attached to it.
Also called side-straddle hop [sahyd-strad-l] /ˈsaɪdˈstræd l/. a conditioning exercise performed by starting from a standing position with legs together and arms resting at the sides and then jumping to a position with the legs spread apart and out to the sides while simultaneously extending the arms out from the sides to an overhead position with the hands touching and finishing by reversing these movements to return to the starting position.

Origin of jumping jack

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Words nearby jumping jack

jumping bean, jumping bristletail, jumping gene, jumping genes, jumping hare, jumping jack, jumping mouse, jumping plant louse, jumping spider, jumping-off place, jumping-off place or point

Example sentences from the Web for jumping jack

British Dictionary definitions for jumping jack

jumping jack

noun

a firework having a long narrow tube filled with gunpowder, folded like an accordion so that when lit it burns with small explosions causing it to jump along the ground
a toy figure of a man with jointed limbs that can be moved by pulling attached strings