Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb figuratively To stop functioning; to come to a halt.
  • verb To stiffen or become tight and difficult to move.
  • verb of a machine To stop working suddenly, and become impossible to start again.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

The term originates c. 1870 referring to a machine which jammed up because of excessive heat or friction. It has been used figuratively since c. 1950.

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Examples

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