J UN 



409 



JUR 



introduced at Rome by Julius Caesar, and 

 usi'd by all the Christian countries of 

 Kurope till 1582, when it was reformed 

 by Tope Gregory XIII. 



JULIAN EPOCH. The commencement of 

 the Julian Calendar, on the 1st of Janu- 

 ary of the 46th year before Christ, and 

 708th of Home. 



JULIAN PERIOD, a cycle of 7980 years, 

 being the product of the three cycles ; viz., 

 that of the sun 28, that of the moon 19, 

 and that of the indiction 15 ; and thus 

 named after Julius Caesar Scaliger, the 

 inventor of it. This period, though but 

 feigned, is of great use as the standard and 

 receptacle of all other epochas, as that 

 every year within the period is distin- 

 guishable by a certain peculiar character ; 

 for the sun, moon, and indiction will not 

 be the same again until the whole 7980 

 years be revolved. When the Christian 

 aera commenced, 4713 years of the Julian 

 Period were run , consequently, to find the 

 year of the period answering to any given 

 year, it is only necessary to add 4713 

 to it. 



JULIAN YEAR, the year of 365 days, 

 6 hours, instituted by Julius Cwsar, who 

 caused the Roman Calendar to be re- 

 formed. See YEAR. 



JULCS, Lat. from ituXe;- 1. In botany, 

 a catkin or inflorescence consisting of 



chaffy scales, arranged along a stalk. 



2. In entomology, a genus of apterous in- 

 sects of many species. 



JU'LY, the seventh month of the year, 

 named from Julius Caesar, who was born 

 in this month. Before that time, this 

 month was called Quintilis, or the fifth 

 month, March being the first. 



JUMP. In mining, one of the numerous 

 appellations which the dislocations of the 

 strata have received from the practical 

 miners of different districts. 



JUM'PER. In mining, a long iron tool, 

 with a steel chisel-like point, used for 

 drilling holes for the lodgment of powder 

 in rocks which are to be blasted ; called 

 also a borer. 



JUM'PERS, a Christian sect, well known 

 in Wales, and remarkable for their eccen- 

 tricities. 



JUN'CUS, the rush. An extensive genus 

 of perennial plants. HexandriaMono- 

 gynia. Name junciis, fromjitngo, to join, 

 the rush being used ancientlv as cordage 

 is at present. There are nineteen British 

 species, and twenty-four in all, according 

 to Bonn. 



JLN'GLE, a Persian word, used in the 

 East Indies to denote land covered with 

 forest-trees, thick impenetrable brush- 

 wood, creeping plants, and coarse rank 

 vegetation. 



JU'XIPER, juniper-tree. The Juniperus 

 eommunis, a shrub which yields the con- 

 crew resin ca"ed num-ninipr, and whose 



fruit is the juniper-berries , so much valued, 

 both in medicine and the manufacture of 

 gin. 



JUNIP'ERUS, the juniper. A genus of 

 cruciferous plants of many species. Dice- 

 da Monadelphia. Name from juvenis. 

 young, and pario, to bring forth, because 

 it produces its young berries while the old 

 ones are ripening. The common juniper 

 and savin-trees are the most important 

 species. 



JUNK. 1. From juncus, a bulrush, o 

 which ropes were made in early ages 

 Old pieces of cable, cordage, &c. used foi 

 making points, gaskets, mats, &c. ; and 

 when untwisted and picked to pieces, it 

 forms oakum for filling the seams of ships. 



2. An oriental name of a sort of small 



ship, common among the Chinese, in the 

 East Indies, &c., about the size of a fly- 

 boat. The sails are frequently made of 

 mats, and the anchors of wood. 



JU'NO. 1. In mythology, the wife of Ju- 

 piter, and goddess of all power and empire, 

 represented sitting on a throne, with a 

 diadem on her head, and a peacock by her 



side. 2. In astronomy, the name of a 



small planet or asteroid, discovered in 

 1804, by Mr. Harding of Lilienthal. It 

 has the appearance of a star of the eighth 

 magnitude, and is situated between the 

 orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It revolves 

 round the sun in 4 years and 128 days. 



JUN'TO, 1 A select council in Spain and 



JCN'TA. / Portugal, for taking cogni- 

 zance of important matters in politics, 

 commerce, &c. 



JU'PITER, Jovis pater. In mythology, the 

 son of Saturn and Ops, and chief of the 

 gods. His usual attributes are the eagle 

 and thunderbolts, and sometimes a figure 

 of victory, and a spear. 2. In astro- 

 nomy, one of the superior planets. Its 

 diameter is 89,170 miles, which is more 

 than eleven times that of our earth, yet 

 revolves about its axis in 9h. 55m. 37s., 

 and performs its circuit about the sun in 

 11 years and 318 days. Next to Venus, 

 it is the most brilliant of the planets, has 

 four satellites, and its surface is marked 

 by zones or belts of various shades, con- 

 cerning which there are various opinions. 

 Distance from the sun 493,000,000 miles. 

 Its polar and equatorial diameters are to 

 each other as 12 to 13. 



Ju'RATs,jurrt<t. Magistrates, in the na- 

 ture of aldermen, for the government of 

 several corporations, as Jersey, Maid- 

 stone, Rye, &c. 



JU'RE DIVI'NO (Lat.). By divine right, } 



JURISCON'SDLT, juris consnltus. A per 

 son learned in jurisprudence, and fit to 

 be consulted on the interpretation of the 

 laws. 



JU'RT, Fr. jurf, sworn. A number of 

 persons, selected in the manner prescribed 

 by law, empannelled and sworn to inquire 



