jayhawker

A name given to an armed man, who belongs to an independent military organization; a freebooter; a guerrilla. *Jā-zěl, s. [Cf. Sp. azul , Eng. azure.] Min.: A precious stone of an azure color. jā-zer-ant, *Jaz-er-ine, *Je -er-aunt, subst . [O. Fr. jazerant , jazerenc; Sp. jacerina ; Port. jazzer in a ; Ital. ghiazzerino , from O. Sp. jazarino =algerine, from Arab. jazair Algiers.] Old Arm .: A jacket strengthened by small plates of metal. It was formed by overlapping pieces of steel, fastened by one edge upon canvas, which was coated over with velvet or cloth; it was, in fact, a method of quilting or padding a dre with metal internally, to make it sword and dagger proof, without being visible to the eye. The pieces of metal were generally small, and allowed flexibility by being fastened down by one side only. The jazerant was much worn by Italian nobles during the troublous period of the middle ages.