Jackknifed: meaning, definitions and examples

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jackknifed

 

[ ˈdʒækˌnaɪfd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

vehicle accident

To jackknife refers to a situation where a vehicle, especially a truck or trailer, folds at the joint, resembling a folding pocket knife. It usually occurs when the trailer swings out of control, commonly in slippery conditions. This can lead to accidents and blockages on roads.

Synonyms

bend, fold

Examples of usage

  • The truck jackknifed on the icy road.
  • After losing control, the driver jackknifed the trailer.
  • We witnessed a jackknifed lorry on our way to work.

Translations

Translations of the word "jackknifed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 despedaçado

🇮🇳 जैकनाइफ किया हुआ

🇩🇪 auf die Schnauze gefallen

🇮🇩 terjatuh

🇺🇦 зламався

🇵🇱 złamany

🇯🇵 ジャックナイフのように折れた

🇫🇷 en forme de couteau

🇪🇸 en forma de navaja

🇹🇷 katlanmış

🇰🇷 접힌

🇸🇦 منحني

🇨🇿 převrácený

🇸🇰 prevrátený

🇨🇳 翻倒的

🇸🇮 prevrnjen

🇮🇸 umturnaður

🇰🇿 қисық

🇬🇪 გატეხილი

🇦🇿 sındırılmış

🇲🇽 doblado

Word origin

The term 'jackknife' originated in the 19th century, referring to a type of folding knife that opens and closes with a pivot. The word 'jack' in this context is thought to relate to the name 'jack', commonly used to denote a man or a common man. The 'knife' part refers to the blade's action of folding in on itself. In the context of vehicles, the term evolved in the mid-20th century when large trucks began to be more widely used. The visual similarity between the folding action of a jackknife and the way a trailer can swing back toward the cab of a truck during an upset led to the adoption of this term in the transportation industry.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,841, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.