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| jack·knife [ ják nf ] |
noun (plural jack·knives [ ják nvz ]) |
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| Definition: |
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1. pocketknife: a large pocketknife
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2. dive: a dive in which the diver jumps, bends the body at the waist while keeping the legs together and straight, then straightens out to enter the water headfirst
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verb (past and past participle jack·knifed, present participle jack·knif·ing, 3rd person present singular jack·knifes) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb bend double: to bend, or bend something, double or into an acute angle
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2. intransitive verb transportation lose control of truck trailer: to lose control of the trailer of a tractor-trailer as a result of sudden braking or swerving at speed, or for the trailer to go out of control, so that it swings around violently and ends up at an acute angle to the cab
  The truck struck a patch of ice and jackknifed.
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3. intransitive verb swimming do jackknife dive: to perform a jackknife dive
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| [Early 18th century. Origin ?] |
