# Origin of "Jumping Jacks"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-jumping-jacks/326664>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 17, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-jumping-jacks/326664 "2005-10-17T22:28:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![defunct\_pigeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cab0a1/32.png) [@defunct\_pigeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/defunct_pigeon)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-jumping-jacks/326664/1 "2005-10-17T22:28:03Z")

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Where’d they get the name jumping jacks? It’s been bothering a few friends and myself for some time now…

thanks for any ideas.

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-jumping-jacks/326664/2 "2005-10-17T22:42:47Z")

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A “Jumping Jack” is an old fashioned wooden toy. You pull a string and the arms and legs raise. The exercise is named after the resemblence of the action to the toy’s.

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-jumping-jacks/326664/3 "2005-10-17T22:44:44Z")

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There’s one pictured at the bottom of [this page](http://www.oldwoodtoys.com/bonnie_barn.htm).

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**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-jumping-jacks/326664/4 "2005-10-17T22:49:04Z")

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(Jay Leno) [Paraphrased] Yeah, of course hes jumping like that. If you pulled me there, I would Jump Too!! (/Jay Leno)

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-jumping-jacks/326664/5 "2005-10-17T23:24:53Z")

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From the traditional wooden toy called a [jumping jack](http://www.folktoys.com/atjack.htm) (fourth picture down) shaped like a human figure with jointed arms and legs attached to a string. So when you pull the string, “Jack” appears to jump and splays out his arms and legs.

You can [make your own jumping jack](http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/kids/jumping_jacks/) out of paper, too. Apparently (pdf) this toy first became popular in 18th-century France.

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**Author:** ![defunct\_pigeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cab0a1/32.png) [@defunct\_pigeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/defunct_pigeon)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-jumping-jacks/326664/6 "2005-10-18T23:11:50Z")

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thank you all so much.