jackknife

jack·knife  (jknf)

n.

1. A large clasp knife.

2. Sports A dive in the pike position, in which the diver straightens out to enter the water hands first.

v. jack·knifed, jack·knif·ing, jack·knifes

v.tr.

1. To fold or double (something or oneself) like a jackknife.

2. To cut or stab with a jackknife.

v.intr.

1. To bend or fold up like a jackknife: A truck that had jackknifed was blocking the road.

2. To form a 90° angle.

---

jackknife

Verb

[-knifing, -knifed]

(of an articulated lorry) to go out of control in such a way that the trailer swings round at a sharp angle to the cab

Noun

pl -knives

1. a knife with a blade that can be folded into the handle

2. a dive in which the diver bends at the waist in midair

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	jackknife - a large knife with one or more folding blades clasp knife pocket knife, pocketknife - a knife with a blade that folds into the handle; suitable for carrying in the pocket
	2.	jackknife - a dive in which the diver bends to touch the ankles before straightening out dive, diving - a headlong plunge into water
Verb	1.	jackknife - dive into the water bending the body at the waist at a right angle, like a jackknife athletics, sport - an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition dive - plunge into water; "I was afraid to dive from the board into the pool"

Translations

jackknife [ˈdʒæknaɪf] n → couteau m de poche

vi the lorry jackknifed → la remorque (du camion) s'est mise en travers