[In senses 1, 2, from different senses of JACK sb.1 Sense 3 may be merely onomatopæic: cf. CHUCK v.2]
1. trans. To jack up: To hoist with a jack (see JACK sb.1 10).
1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 March, 6/1. It is no very awkward matter to ‘jack-up’ a seven-ton engine and replace it on the rails if by accident it runs off.
2. intr. To hunt or fish at night with a jack (see JACK sb.1 26). U.S.
1881. H. Vane, in Harper’s Mag., Oct., 692–3. Gad went out ‘jacking’ with him, and jumped right over the bow of the boat to catch a deer.
1895. Outing (U.S.), XXVI. 61. Few have ever tried jacking for pickerel in the spring, by the light of a cedar wood or a kerosene blaze.
3. dial. or colloq. To jack up: a. trans. (a) To do for, ruin. (b) To throw up, give up, abandon. (Cf. CHUCK v.2 2 b.) Also simply to jack (rare).
1873. Slang Dict., Jacked-up, ruined, done for.
1880. Daily Tel., 9 Oct., 3/5. The Liberal canvassers … became dissatisfied and threatened to ‘Jack up’ their books.
1881. M. Reynolds, Engine-Driving Life, 66. To burn a fire-box, burns your name into the locomotive superintendant’s black-book, and there you are jacked up for ever.
1897. W. Besant, in Contemp. Rev., Dec., 795. About 16 per cent. ‘jack it up,’ and go back to the slough and mire.
b. absol. or intr. To give up suddenly or promptly.
1873. Slang Dict., s.v. Jacked up, To jack-up is to leave off doing anything suddenly.
1875. Parish, Sussex Gloss., Jack-up, to give up anything in a bad temper.
1881. Leicestersh. Gloss., Jack-up … also, to become bankrupt or insolvent.
1889. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms (1890), 135. [It] took a deal of punishment before he jacked up. Ibid. (1898), Rom. Canvass Town, 253. As a man, a gentleman, and a squatter, I ‘jacked up’ at the cookery.
