whiskey jack: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2informal, regional, Canadian
Quick answer
What does “whiskey jack” mean?
A common name for the Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis), a grey, crested bird of the crow family found in northern forests.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common name for the Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis), a grey, crested bird of the crow family found in northern forests.
A nickname for the bird, originating from a corruption of the Cree word "Wisakedjak" (a trickster figure). In Canadian context, it can colloquially refer to a clever or mischievous person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Not used in British English. Primarily a Canadian term. In the UK, the bird is unknown, and the term would be unfamiliar.
Connotations
In Canada: evokes wilderness, resourcefulness, and national identity. Elsewhere: unknown or perceived as a curious regionalism.
Frequency
Very high frequency in Canadian outdoor and wildlife contexts; extremely low to non-existent in other varieties of English.
Grammar
How to Use “whiskey jack” in a Sentence
The [adjective] whiskey jack [verb] the [noun].[Location] was visited by a whiskey jack.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “whiskey jack” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- The bird whiskey-jacked a piece of my sandwich right from my hand.
adjective
American English
- He had a whiskey-jack boldness about him.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in ornithology and Canadian environmental studies.
Everyday
Used by campers, hikers, and hunters in Canada to refer to the bird.
Technical
Perisoreus canadensis (scientific name).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “whiskey jack”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whiskey jack”
- Spelling it as 'whisky jack' (the standard Canadian spelling is with an 'e').
- Using it to refer to any blue jay or crow.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a specific name for the Canada jay (grey jay), a different species found in northern coniferous forests.
It's an anglicised corruption of the Cree word 'Wisakedjak', the name of a trickster figure in Indigenous mythology.
Almost exclusively in Canada, particularly in wilderness and rural contexts.
Both 'whiskey jack' (two words) and 'whiskeyjack' (one word) are accepted variants.
A common name for the Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis), a grey, crested bird of the crow family found in northern forests.
Whiskey jack is usually informal, regional, canadian in register.
Whiskey jack: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɪski ˌdʒæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɪski ˌdʒæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cheeky as a whiskey jack”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'whiskey' bottle in a 'jacket' of feathers, but the bird steals your snacks, not your drink.
Conceptual Metaphor
The whiskey jack is a THIEF (steals food). The whiskey jack is a BOLD COMPANION (unafraid of humans).
Practice
Quiz
'Whiskey jack' is best described as: