Job

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 , 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.

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.

3. To carry on the business of a jobber in merchandise or stocks.

Job (j&obreve;b), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jobbed (j&obreve;bd); 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 (j&obreve;b), 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.]

&fist; 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.