jackal

Any of certain wild canids of the genera Lupulella and Canis, native to the tropical Old World and smaller than a wolf.

• Until recently, scientists thought Ethiopian wolves were a type of jackal. They gave Ethiopian wolves names like Semien jackal, Simenian jackal, or Ethiopian jackal.
• As we will see, the jackal is usually associated in the Indic context with death and impurity, and would therefore sit squarely at the bottom of Dumont's social hierarchy.

A person who performs menial or routine tasks; a dogsbody.

• A nephew of hers, after receiving some learning at her ladyship's expence, got a commission, and fell upon the field of Waterloo; another is still at her heels, as a sort of jackall to fetch and carry when required.

A person who behaves in an opportunistic way; especially, a base collaborator.derogatoryfiguratively

A person who behaves in an opportunistic way; especially, a base collaborator.; A player who steals the ball at the tackle.derogatoryfiguratively

A jack (the playing card).rareslang

To perform menial or routine tasks

• They have jackalled for the great beast, to pick in turns the bones of each other; they have subserved those above, to oppress and defraud those below; and they are suffering, and, so far as classes can, justly suffering their purgation.