JAR

jar, a vessel of simple form, made of earthenware, glass, &c., with a spoutless mouth, and usually without handles. the word came into english through fr. _jarre_ or span, _jarra_, from arab, _jarrah_, the earthenware vessel of eastern countries, used to contain water, oil, wine, &c. the simple electrical condenser known as a _leyden jar_ (q.v.) was so called because of the early experiments made in the science of electricity at leiden. in the sense of a harsh vibrating sound, a sudden shock or vibrating movement, hence dissension, quarrel or petty strife, "jar" is onomatopoeic in origin; it is also seen in the name of the bird night-jar (also known as the goat-sucker). in the expression "on the jar" or "ajar," of a door or window partly open, the word is another form of _chare_ or _char_, meaning turn or turning, which survives in charwoman, one who works at a turn, a job and _chore_, a job, spell of work.