Meaning of jack-knife | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A compact folding knife.
2. The front-dive pike, in which the body folds and unfolds.
3. A semi-trailer truck accident in which the vehicle mimics the closing of a jack-knife.
   colloquial
4. A game of skill played with a pocket knife in which participants try to throw or flip the knife to stick upright in the ground at specified points or areas; mumblety-peg.
5. Alternative spelling of jackknife.
   alt-of, alternative

Equivalents

Examples

“He kept a jack-knife in his pocket for various tasks.”

“It took me hundreds of dives to master even the simple jackknife.”

“I have seen several jack-knives along that dangerous stretch of road.”

“Over at the stable, the men joke and drink whiskey, talk crops and play jack-knife ...”

CEFR level