Job (jōb), n. The hero of
the book of that name in the Old Testament; the typical patient
man.
Job's comforter. (a) A false
friend; a tactless or malicious person who, under pretense of
sympathy, insinuates rebukes. (b) A
boil. [Colloq.] -- Job's news, bad
news. Carlyle. -- Job's tears
(Bot.), a kind of grass (Coix Lacryma), with hard,
shining, pearly grains.
Job (jŏb), n. [Prov. E.
job, gob, n., a small piece of wood,
v., to stab, strike; cf. E. gob, gobbet; perh.
influenced by E. chop to cut off, to mince. See
Gob.]
1. A sudden thrust or stab; a jab.
2. A piece of chance or occasional work; any
definite work undertaken in gross for a fixed price; as, he did the
job for a thousand dollars.
3. A public transaction done for private
profit; something performed ostensibly as a part of official duty,
but really for private gain; a corrupt official business.
4. Any affair or event which affects one,
whether fortunately or unfortunately. [Colloq.]
5. A situation or opportunity of work; as, he
lost his job. [Colloq.]
☞ Job is used adjectively to signify doing
jobs, used for jobs, or let on hire to do jobs; as,
job printer; job master; job horse; job
wagon, etc.
By the job, at a stipulated sum for the
work, or for each piece of work done; -- distinguished from time
work; as, the house was built by the job. --
Job lot, a quantity of goods, usually
miscellaneous, sold out of the regular course of trade, at a certain
price for the whole; as, these articles were included in a job
lot. -- Job master, one who lest out
horses and carriages for hire, as for family use. [Eng.] --
Job printer, one who does miscellaneous
printing, esp. circulars, cards, billheads, etc. -- Odd
job, miscellaneous work of a petty kind; occasional
work, of various kinds, or for various people.
Job (jŏb), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Jobbed (jŏbd); p. pr. & vb.
n. Jobbing.]
1. To strike or stab with a pointed
instrument. L'Estrange.
2. To thrust in, as a pointed
instrument. Moxon.
3. To do or cause to be done by separate
portions or lots; to sublet (work); as, to job a
contract.
4. (Com.) To buy and sell, as a
broker; to purchase of importers or manufacturers for the purpose of
selling to retailers; as, to job goods.
5. To hire or let by the job or for a period
of service; as, to job a carriage.
Thackeray.
Job, v. i. 1. To
do chance work for hire; to work by the piece; to do petty
work.
Authors of all work, to job for the
season.
Moore.
2. To seek private gain under pretense of
public service; to turn public matters to private
advantage.
And judges job, and bishops bite the
town.
Pope.
3. To carry on the business of a jobber in
merchandise or stocks.