Definition of "jar"

As I was going over the far fam'd Kerry mountain / I met with Captain Farrell [a]nd his money he was counting, / I first produced my pistol and I then produced my rapier, / Sayin', "Stand and deliver for you are my bold deceiver,["] / O, Whack fol the diddle, / O, Whack fol the diddle, / O, There's whiskey in the jar / O, Whack fol the diddle, / O, Whack fol the diddle, / O, There's whiskey in the jar.

17th century?, “There’s Whiskey in the Jar”, in Colm O Lochlainn, compiler, Irish Street Ballads: Collected and Annotated […], New York, N.Y.: Corinth Books, published 1960, page 24

[A] certain fisherman, after throwing his nets to no purpose, and beginning to be in despair, succeeded in catching a jar of brass. […] But presently there came out of the jar a vapour, and it rose up towards the heavens, and reached along the face of the earth; and after this, the vapour reached its height, and condensed, and became compact, and waved tremulously, and became an Ufreet (evil spirit), […]

1848, Leigh Hunt, “Introduction. A Blue Jar from Sicily, and a Brass Jar from the ‘Arabian Nights;’ and What Came Out of Each.”, in A Jar of Honey from Mount Hybla, London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], page 3

The first view shows the body in the grave, looking southwards; the stack of offering jars lies outside of a little court for offerings which is seen beyond them. Below this is a nearer view of the grave alone. Here is skeleton is in place, an alabaster bowl lies between the face and the knees, and a slate palette over that. Five jars stand around the body.

1914, W[illiam] M[atthew] Flinders Petrie, “The Valley Cemetery”, in Tarkhan II (British School of Archaeology in Egypt and Egyptian Research Account: Nineteenth Year, 1913; XXV), London: School of Archaeology in Egypt, University College, […] and Bernard Quaritch, […], page 2, column 2

Lucy Orrinsmith praised the charms of green glazed vases from the Aures mountains and Tunisian coarse clay and terracotta jars.

2008, Judith A. Neiswander, “Individuality and Eclectic Internationalism”, in The Cosmopolitan Interior: Liberalism and the British Home 1870–1914, New Haven, Conn., London: Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art by Yale University Press, page 46

The Leyden jar is charged, like the condenser of Œpinus and the fulminating square, by making one of the armatures communicate with the earth and the other with the electric source.

1855, “On Physics, or Natural Philosophy. No. LIX. Effects Produced by the Accumulation of both Electricities.”, in [Robert Wallace], editor, The Popular Educator, volume VI, London: John Cassell, […], page 507, column 1

These important deficiencies in air-tight jars for preserving eggs have led me to invent a jar purposely for egg preserving, and which jar is not only perfectly air-tight, but it will show at a glance whether it is so, and how long it remains so, by means of its patent pneumatic self-indicating cap.

1865 March 14, G. K. Geyelin, “The Laws of Nature: In Relation to Poultry Keeping from a Commercial Point of View”, in George W. Johnson, Robert Hogg, editors, The Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman. […], volume VIII, number 207 (New Series; volume XXXIII, issue 859 (Old Series)), London: Published for the proprietors, […], page 219, column 2

A smaller plate was immersed, while the combustion was in active operation, in a glass jar of carbonic acid gas without any diminution of the incandescence of its surface, showing that the combustion is independent of the atmosphere in which takes place.

1911 November 21, William A[rthur] Bone, “Surface Combustion in a Boiler”, in Power: Devoted to the Generation and Transmission of Power, volume 34, number 21, New York, N.Y.: Hill Publishing Co., page 767, column 3

Who do you think you are? / Runnin' 'round leaving scars / Collecting your jar of hearts / And tearing love apart

2010 July 27, Christina Perri (lyrics and music), “Jar of Hearts”, in Lovestrong

About a shopping trolley, I thought I'd let ye know. Ya'd try to push it straight but it never seems ta go. Ya'd wobble through the car park, hopping off the cars. Anyone would think ya had a few auld jars.

2013 March 15, “The Shopping Trolley” (track 10), in Horsing Around‎, performed by Richie Kavanagh

It's important to consider the safety of jarring food. Eating food that has been spoiled because it wasn't jarred properly correctly can result in the disease botulism.

2014, Bridget Heos, “Getting Started”, in Jarring and Canning: Make Your Own Jams, Jellies, Pickles, and More (Urban Gardening and Farming for Teens), New York, N.Y.: Rosen Publishing, page 17

[...] yet (good-deed) Leontes,I loue thee not a Iarre o'th' Clock, behindWhat Lady she her Lord. You'le stay?

c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii]

Through the stir and motion of the commoner streets; through the roar and jar of many vehicles, many feet, many voices; with the blazing shop-lights lighting him on, the west wind blowing him on, and the crowd pressing him on; he is pitilessly urged upon his way, and nothing meets him, murmuring, "Don't go home!"

1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, “Closing In”, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, page 468

The next instant the automobile had come with a catastrophic jar against an iron object.

1908, G[ilbert] K[eith] Chesterton, The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare, Bristol: J[ames] W[illiams] Arrowsmith, […]; London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Company, page 258

Besides the jar of contrast there came to her a chill self-reproach that she had not returned sooner, to help her mother in these domesticities, instead of indulging herself out-of-doors.

1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, volume 1, London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., page 29

So loue does raine / In ſtouteſt minds, and maketh monſtrous warre; / He maketh warre, he maketh peace againe, / And yett his peace is but continuall iarre: / O miſerable men, that to him ſubject arre.

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, stanza 26, page 212

I haue beene wooed, as I intreat thee now, / Euen by the ſterne, and direfull God of warre, / VVhoſe ſinowie necke in battel nere did bow, / VVho conquers where he comes in euery iarre; […]

1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […]; 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Field, […], 1594, [verse 17], lines

To redreſſe thoſe jarres and ill proceedings, the Treaſurer, Councell, and Company of Virginia, not finding that returne, and profit they expected; and them ingaged there, not having meanes to ſubſiſt of themſelues, made meanes to his Maieſtie, to call in their Commiſſion, […]

1624, Richard Pots, William Tankard, G. P., William Simons, compiler, “Chapter XII. The Arrivall of the Third Supply.”, in John Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, book 3; reprinted in The Generall Historie of Virginia, [...] (Bibliotheca Americana), Cleveland, Oh.: The World Publishing Company, 1966, page 89

But of late the populace of France are not so perfectly enclouded with Superſtition, and if a young Author can pretend to Divine, I think it is eaſy to foreſee that the papal Power will in a very ſhort ſpace be conſiderably leſſen’d if not in a great meaſure diſregarded in that Kingdom, by the inteſtine Jarrs and Diſcords of their Parties for Religion, and the Deſultory Judgments of the moſt conſiderable Prelates.

1718, [Daniel Defoe], A Vindication of the Press: Or, An Essay on the Usefulness of Writing, on Criticism, and the Qualification of Authors. […], London: Printed for T. Warner, […], page 7

[T]he wrought iron arms of a fly-wheel were jarred loose in the cast iron rim, and broke off quite short from the rapid and continued violent shocks caused by the cam striking the helve, although the iron was of the toughest description originally.

1850 April 24, “Discussion on Railway Axes, and on the Structural Changes which Iron is Supposed to Undergo from Vibration and Concussion. […]”, in J[oseph] C[linton] Robertson, editor, The Mechanics’ Magazine, Museum, Register, Journal, and Gazette, volume LII, number 1397, London: Robertson and Co., Mechanics’ Magazine Office, […], published 18 May 1850, page 394, column 1

The most reliable process [for removing curculios] is that of jarring the trees and collecting the insects on a cotton sheet spread under the tree. […] [I]n this manner a dozen or more of trees can be jarred and the results carefully collected in about fifteen or twenty minutes.

1868, W[illiam] Saunders, “[Appendix to Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts. Appendix (G). Report of ‘the Fruit Growers Association of Ontario,’ with Local Reports Annexed.] Report on the Fruit Crop in the Vicinity of London during 1868, with Remarks on Their Insect Enemies and Diseases”, in Sessional Papers. Second Session of the First Parliament of the Province of Ontario., volume I, part II, Toronto, Ont.: Hunter, Rose & Co. printers, page 199

When thoſe renoumed[sic – meaning renowned] noble Peres of Greece, / thrugh ſtubborn pride amongſt theſelues did iar / forgetfull of the famous golden fleece, / then Orpheus with his harp theyr ſtrife did bar.

1595, Edmunde Spenser [i.e., Edmund Spenser], “[Amoretti.] Sonnet XLIIII”, in Amoretti and Epithalamion. […], London: […] [Peter Short] for William Ponsonby; reprinted in Amoretti and Epithalamion (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas […], 1927,

For Orders and Degrees / Jarr not with liberty, but well conſiſt.

1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,

How irkſome is this Muſick to my heart? / When ſuch Strings iarre, what hope of Harmony?

1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene i], page 126, column 1

Be not too rigidly Cenſorious, / A ſtring may jarr in the beſt Maſters hand, / And the moſt skilfull Archer miſs his aim; / But in a Poem elegantly writ, / I will not quarrel with a ſlight miſtake, / Such as our Natures frailty may excuſe; [...]

1680, Horace, translated by Earl of Roscommon , page 24