jackal

noun

jack·​al ˈja-kəl How to pronounce jackal (audio)
 also  -ˌkȯl
1
: any of several small omnivorous canids (such as Canis aureus) of Africa and Asia having large ears, long legs, and bushy tails
2
a
: a person who performs routine or menial tasks for another
b
: a person who serves or collaborates with another especially in the commission of base acts

Examples of jackal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some online commentators worried about the pup’s well-being, some took the opportunity to crack jokes and others drew a connection between the stray and Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead typically depicted as a jackal or a human with a jackal’s head. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 Roving like hungry jackals, smallmouth bass will move down and along drop-offs, hunting for the holdout crayfish, leeches, and insects along their way. Kubie Brown, Outdoor Life, 3 Oct. 2024 The board has two parallel sets of 29 holes, and players use 10 small sticks with either jackal or dog heads, similar to the board and pegs of cribbage. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 Sep. 2024 Janney, who won the most Emmys as a cast member on the show, played C.J. Cregg, the jackal dancing press secretary who eventually becomes Chief of Staff. Peter White, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for jackal 

Word History

Etymology

Turkish çakal, from Persian shaqāl, of Indo-Aryan origin; akin to Sanskrit sṛgāla jackal

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of jackal was in 1603

Dictionary Entries Near jackal

Cite this Entry

“Jackal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackal. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

jackal

noun
jack·​al ˈjak-əl How to pronounce jackal (audio)
-ˌȯl
: any of several wild dogs of Africa and Asia like but smaller than the related wolves

More from Merriam-Webster on jackal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!