JERK

tug, jerk

(noun) a sudden abrupt pull

jerk, jerking, jolt, saccade

(noun) an abrupt spasmodic movement

jerk

(noun) raising a weight from shoulder height to above the head by straightening the arms

jerky, jerked meat, jerk

(noun) meat (especially beef) cut in strips and dried in the sun

jerk, dork

(noun) a dull stupid fatuous person

jerk

(noun) (mechanics) the rate of change of acceleration

twitch, jerk

(verb) make an uncontrolled, short, jerky motion; “his face is twitching”

jerk, flick

(verb) throw or toss with a quick motion; “flick a piece of paper across the table”; “jerk his head”

yank, jerk

(verb) pull, or move with a sudden movement; “He turned the handle and jerked the door open”

buck, jerk, hitch

(verb) jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched; “the yung filly bucked”

jerk, twitch

(verb) move with abrupt, seemingly uncontrolled motions; “The patient’s legs were jerkings”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

jerk (plural jerks)

A sudden, often uncontrolled movement, especially of the body.

A quick, often unpleasant tug or shake.

(US, slang, pejorative) A dull or stupid person.

(North America, slang, pejorative) A person with unlikable or obnoxious qualities and behavior, typically mean, self-centered, or disagreeable.

• I finally fired him, because he was being a real jerk to his customers, even to some of the staff.

• You really are a jerk sometimes.

(physics, engineering) The rate of change in acceleration with respect to time.

(obsolete) A soda jerk.

(weightlifting) A lift in which the weight is taken with a quick motion from shoulder height to a position above the head with arms fully extended and held there for a brief time.

Usage notes

• Jerk is measured in metres per second cubed (m/s³) in SI units, or in feet per second cubed (ft/s³) in imperial units.

Synonyms

• (sudden movement): jolt, lurch, jump

• (quick tug): yank

• (stupid person): numbskull

• (unlikable person): asshole, bastard, twat, knobhead, tosser, wanker, git, dick; see jerk.

• (physics, change in acceleration): jolt (British), surge, lurch

Verb

jerk (third-person singular simple present jerks, present participle jerking, simple past and past participle jerked)

(intransitive) To make a sudden uncontrolled movement.

(transitive) To give a quick, often unpleasant tug or shake.

(US, slang, vulgar) To masturbate.

(obsolete) To beat, to hit.

(obsolete) To throw with a quick and suddenly arrested motion of the hand.

(usually, transitive, weightlifting) To lift using a jerk.

(obsolete) To flout with contempt.

Etymology 2

Noun

jerk (uncountable)

(Caribbean) A rich, spicy Jamaican marinade.

(Caribbean) Meat cured by jerking; charqui.

Verb

jerk (third-person singular simple present jerks, present participle jerking, simple past and past participle jerked)

To cure (meat) by cutting it into strips and drying it, originally in the sun.

Source: Wiktionary

Jerk, v. t. Etym: [Corrupted from Peruv. charqui dried beef.]

Definition: To cut into long slices or strips and dry in the sun; as, jerk beef. See Charqui.

Jerk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jerked; p. pr. & vb. n. Jerking.] Etym: [Akin to yerk, and perh. also to yard a measure.]

1. To beat; to strike. [Obs.] Florio.

2. To give a quick and suddenly arrested thrust, push, pull, or twist, to; to yerk; as, to jerk one with the elbow; to jerk a coat off.

3. To throw with a quick and suddenly arrested motion of the hand; as, to jerk a stone.

Jerk, v. i.

1. To make a sudden motion; to move with a start, or by starts. Milton.

2. To flout with contempt.

Jerk, n.

1. A short, sudden pull, thrust, push, twitch, jolt, shake, or similar motion. His jade gave him a jerk. B. Jonson.

2. A sudden start or spring. Lobsters . . . swim backwards by jerks or springs. Grew.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

JERK

Etymology 1

Noun

Usage notes

Synonyms

Verb

Etymology 2

Noun

Verb

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