A jackal is a wild dog that lives in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Jackals are about the size of a medium dog, with pointed ears, bushy tails, and golden-brown or black fur. They're clever hunters and scavengers, eating everything from small animals and insects to fruit and whatever food they can find.

Jackals often appear in stories and fables as cunning, sneaky characters. In Aesop's fables and folktales from around the world, the jackal plays tricks and uses its wits to outsmart larger, stronger animals. This reputation comes from watching real jackals: they're smart enough to follow lions and wait patiently for leftovers, bold enough to snatch food from larger predators, and clever enough to survive in harsh deserts and grasslands where food is scarce.

When someone calls a person a jackal, they usually mean that person is sneaky or takes advantage of others' work. It's not a compliment. The word suggests someone who hangs around looking for easy opportunities rather than doing their own honest work.