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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Jak, Jack, n.¹ Also: jake, jeak. [ME. Jacke, Jakke (13th c.), e.m.E. Jack, a pet-name or by-name for John. (On the derivation from John see OED. s.v. and E. W. B. Nicholson, The Pedigree of Jack (1892).)]

1. Coupled with Jok, as representative names for a group of men of common rank (cf. ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’.) c1500 Rowll Cursing 196 (M).
The membris of thai cursit men … Thai salbe cuttit be the croppis, Quhair with the dewill Jakkis and Jokkis Salbe bordourit and buttonit als

2. a. A clock-jack. b. A roasting-jack. Also comb. in jackmaker. c. The jack in bowls.a. 1681 Foulis Acc. Bk. 92.
To Andrew Broune for helping the knock & jack [£1/-/-]b. 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 365.
Ane jack; 2 iron chayns for the jack 1715 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 182.
For a pair of raxes and a chean to the jack —comb. 1680 Foulis Acc. Bk. 35.
For 2 pair tongs from Androw Broune, fidler and jackmakerc. 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 302.
One jeak with nyne byase bowlles

3. a. Jakfallow lyk, Jakfellow lyke, Jakefellow lyke, said of a presumptuous servant who behaves as if he were his master's equal.Jak-fallow, -fellow (e.m.E. (1627) has Jack-fellow), a quasi proper name or nickname with Fallow n., Fellow n. a1568 Bann. MS. 157 b/17.
Troll-by be his maistir frakly will ryd And with ane hude on his heid hovis him besyd Cheik for cheik also and jakfallow lyk 1563 Ferg. Tracts 46.
Wherein everie s[aint] in heanen is made equall, (or as we say) jakfellow lyke, vnto the eternal God 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. x. 14.
That men presume not to seeke honour where God onely should; for feare of his jelousie, who cannot abyde Dagon to play jakefellow-lyke

b. Jak on baith the sydis, one professing adherence to two opposing parties at once; a trimmer or double-dealer in politics. (e.m.E. Jacke of both sides (1562).) 1567 Sat. P. vi. 100.
And Jak on baith the sydis will neuer do gude 1600-1610 Melvill 174.
Some … played prettelie the part of Jak on bathe the sydes

c. Jak in the bokis, a name for a cheat or sharper (e.m.E., 1555, in this sense 1612). 1570 Sat. P. xxii. 78.
Jak in the bokis, for all thy mokis A vengeance mot thé fall!

d. Jack of a box, (?). 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 364.
A large trunk barred with iron; an iron jack of a box

e. See also Ja(c)ktaleg and Jackteleg.

f. a1628 Carmichael Prov. no. 1838.
Ye play Jack nedle Jack prein [sc. = behave shiftily or by double dealing]

g. See also Chacke-blynde-man.