Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a leather jug used for drinking, coated with tar on its exterior.

1584		Three Ladies of London III: I tell you I am one that will not geue backe, Not for a double shot out of a blacke Jacke.
1591		Nashe Prognostication in Works II (1883–4) 154: Vpon this shall grow great commoditye to the Potters and Glasse makers [...] if there be not some act made for drinking in blacke Jackes.
1606		Return from Parnassus Pt II V ii: The vsuall Christmas entertainment of Musicians, a black jack of Beer, and a Christmas Pye.
1617		J. Taylor ‘Iacke a Lent’ in Works (1869) I 113: To praise the Turnspit Iacke my Muse is mum, / Nor the enterainment of Iacke Drum / [...] / Nor of black Jacks at gentle buttery bars.
1641		R. Brome Jovial Crew I i: Enter Randal and three or four servants with a great Kettle, and black-Jacks.
1672		‘In Praise of the Black-Jack’ in Ebsworth Westminster Drolleries (1875) ii 94: I wish that his heires may never want Sack, That first devis’d the bonny black Jack.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew.
1699		‘The Black Jack’ in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy I 268: But if the black jack a Man often toss over, / ’Twill make him as drunk as any Philosopher.
1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy III 249: And I wish his Soul much good may partake, / That first devis’d the bonny Black Jack.
1725		New Canting Dict.
1732		Delightful Adventures of Honest John Cole 8: He loved to drink out of a Black-Jack in a dark Corner.
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1821		‘A Real Paddy’ Real Life in Ireland 138: Peg Wither and Grin toddled out, and soon returned with black jack full of the real native.
1821–6		‘Bill Truck’ Man o’ War’s Man (1843) 346: The black jack went swiftly and merrily round.
1822		(con. early 17C) W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel II 275: A morning draught of wholesome single ale, which he brought in a large leathern tankard, or black-jack.
1850		in E. Howe (ed.) Comic and Sentimental Irish Songster 100: How oft the black jack to his lips doth go .
1872		C. Hindley Old Book Collector’s Misc. 3: black jack. — A large leather can, formerly in great use for beer.
1907		Manchester Courier 17 May 14/6: At Chelsea Hospital the veteran heroes also use small black jacks from which to refresh themselves.
1931		Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. Sl. 29: Black Jack.— [...] The term no doubt originated in Scotland to indicate a waxed leather jug used for ale or beer.
1935		Portsmouth Eve. News 18 Dec. 12/6: A Lancashire Yule practice is the drinking of strong beer from leather black jacks.
1936		(con. 1830s–60s) ‘Miles Franklin’ All That Swagger 84: ‘Ye’ra black-jack and tobacco kag combined, and I have no taste for sleeping with such.’ [...] ‘I’m an old tobacco kag and a rum jar,’ he murmured.

2. a type of suitcase or portmanteau.

1885

press report in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era (1909) 32/2: William Wall deposed that he repaired the portmanteau produced [...] Burton also brought another second-hand portmanteau called in the trade ‘Black Jack’.

3. (Aus.) a tin pot used for boiling tea.

1945

Baker Aus. Lang. 83: The black jack is also a billy, often used as a synonym for quart pot.