[ad. L. jactātiōn-em, n. of action from jactāre to throw, toss about, discuss, boast of, refl. to talk boastfully, make an ostentatious display, freq. of jacĕre to throw; cf. F. jactation (Cotgr.).]
1. A tossing or swinging of the body to and fro; spec. in Path. = JACTITATION 2.
1680–90. Temple, Ess., Health, Wks. 1731, I. 282. Jactations … help or occasion Sleep, as we find by the common Use and Experience of rocking froward Children in Cradles, or dandling them in their Nurses Arms.
1751. Bp. Lavington, Enthus. Methodists (1754), II. iii. 96. Various Tumults of Mind, and Jactations of Body.
1887. Syd. Soc. Lex., Jactation. Same as Jactitation.
2. Boasting, bragging, ostentatious display.
1576. Woolton, Chr. Manual (Parker Soc.), 91. If we use them with excess, filthy pleasure, vain jactation … we abuse Gods gifts.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, I. vi. 26. I could adde … Envy, Emulation,… Iactation or Boasting.
1825. Lond. Mag., I. 379. There is no surer sign of vulgarity than jactation of gentility.
1886. Saintsbury, in Macm. Mag., July, 171/2. The tedious burlesque, the more tedious jactation which disfigure his work.
