black jack, noun phrase

Forms:
Also with initial capitals.
Origin:
EnglishShow more Special senses of general English.
1. [Perhaps comparing the shape of the black seed with a bludgeon, in U.S. English called a blackjack.] The weed Bidens pilosa of the Asteraceae; its barbed black seed. Also attributive.
1877 Lady Barker Yr’s Hsekeeping 130An innocent-looking plant,..bearing a most aggravating tuft of little black spires, which lose no opportunity of sticking to one’s petticoats in myriads. They are familiarly known as ‘black jacks’, and can hold their own as pests with any weed of my acquaintance.
1900 O. Osborne In Land of Boers 171It was discovered that I had harvested a few loads of ‘black jack’ grass, that harpooned around, crawled through blankets and clothes, and jabbed into everybody with such ferocity that I was condemned to cast the whole hayrick and a-half away.
1931 O. Letcher Afr. Unveiled 39The burrs and black-jacks had been carefully picked out of the neatly rolled putties.
1956 P. Becker Sandy Tracks 118We struggled through groups of prickly-pear, a dense growth of burrs and blackjacks, and an entanglement of branches and undergrowth.
c1957 D. Swanson Highveld, Lowveld & Jungle 65The tiny spiteful spines of blackjack plants insinuated themselves into his legs and ankles.
1974 Grocott’s Mail 9 Apr.The paths are full of blackjack and weeds.
1981 Fair Lady 9 Sept. 242The herbaceous border is well under control and there’s never a dandelion or blackjack in sight.
1990 Grocott’s Mail 2 Mar. 9Although the Black jack is widely regarded as a pest, it is also one of the most widely used weeds of cultivation and the young shoots and leaves can be eaten as a vegetable.
2. slang. [See quotation 1966.]
a. A derisive name for a township municipal policeman. Also attributive. See also council police.
1966 K.M.C. Motsisi in Post 30 Jan. (Drum) 16There are the Municipal cops who the township wits call Black Jacks, so called because of their black uniform.
1977 P.C. Venter Soweto 125A Black Jack is Soweto’s wry nickname for a non-white member of the municipal police, a force primarily concerned with administrative duties and the collection of accumulated rent.
1983 City Press 9 Oct. 1The journalists protested against..‘blackjacks’ who attacked squatters, churchmen and members of the Press in Katlehong this week, leaving several hurt.
1987 Pace Oct. 4There was this half-baked Soweto Town council cop who was pleading with people to stop calling them ‘black jacks’...These cops used to dress in black uniforms and as a result they were called ‘black jacks’...Today they wear green attire...Somebody has responded to their plea. He calls them ‘green beans’.
1989 M. Tyala in Sunday Times 29 Jan. 7The blackjacks quickly earned a reputation for ruthlessness and bad manners. Scores of deaths in the Vaal Triangle alone were attributed to blackjack and kitskonstabel guns.
1990 [see Malan quot. at green bean].
b. With distinguishing epithet:
flying blackjack, ?nonce, a member of the municipal flying squad.
1969 O. Musi in Post 15 June 14Three ‘flying blackjacks’ in their new vans will..speed out to your rescue.
The weed Bidens pilosa of the Asteraceae; its barbed black seed. Also attributive.
A derisive name for a township municipal policeman. Also attributive.
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18771990

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flying blackjack

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blackhead, nounn.Black Napoleon, noun phrasen. phr.
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