jerk

jerk
{{11}}jerk (n.1) 1550s, "stroke of a whip," from JERK (Cf. jerk) (v.1). Sense of "sudden sharp pull or twist" first recorded 1570s. Meaning "involuntary spasmodic movement of limbs or features" first recorded 1805. As the name of a popular dance, it is attested from 1966. Sense in soda jerk attested from 1883, from the pulling motion required to work the taps.
{{12}}jerk (n.2) "tedious and ineffectual person," 1935 (the lyric in "Big Rock Candy Mountain" apparently is "Where they hung the Turk [not jerk] that invented work"), Amer.Eng. carnival slang, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from jerkwater town (1878), where a steam locomotive crew had to take on boiler water from a trough or a creek because there was no water tank [Barnhart, OED]. This led 1890s to an adjectival use of jerk as "inferior, insignificant." Alternatively, or influenced by, verbal phrase JERK OFF (Cf. jerk off) "masturbate" [Rawson].
{{12}}jerk (v.1) "to pull," 1540s, "to lash, strike as with a whip," of uncertain origin, perhaps echoic. Related: Jerked; jerking.
{{13}}jerk (v.2) as a method of preserving meat, 1707, American English, from Amer.Sp. carquear, from charqui (see JERKY (Cf. jerky)). Related: Jerked.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • jerk — jerk …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • jerk — [ (d)ʒɛrk ] n. m. • 1965; mot angl. « secousse » ♦ Anglic. Danse moderne qui consiste à imprimer des secousses rythmées à tout le corps (tête et bras compris), comme si l on entrait en transes. V. intr. <conjug. : 1> JERKER [ (d)ʒɛrke ]. ●… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • jerk´i|ly — jerk|y1 «JUR kee», adjective, jerk|i|er, jerk|i|est. with sudden starts and stops; with jerks; spasmodic. SYNONYM(S): convulsive. ╂[< …   Useful english dictionary

  • jerk|y — jerk|y1 «JUR kee», adjective, jerk|i|er, jerk|i|est. with sudden starts and stops; with jerks; spasmodic. SYNONYM(S): convulsive. ╂[< …   Useful english dictionary

  • Jerk — Jerk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Jerked} (j[ e]rkt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Jerking}.] [Akin to yerk, and perh. also to yard a measure.] [1913 Webster] 1. To beat; to strike. [Obs.] Florio. [1913 Webster] 2. To give a quick and suddenly arrested thrust, push …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Jerk — Jerk, n. [1913 Webster] 1. A short, sudden pull, thrust, push, twitch, jolt, shake, or similar motion. [1913 Webster] His jade gave him a jerk. B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] 2. A sudden start or spring. [1913 Webster] Lobsters . . . swim backwards by …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • jerk — jerk·er; jerk·i·ly; jerk·i·ness; jerk·ing·ly; jerk; …   English syllables

  • jerk — jerk1 [jʉrk] vt. [var. of archaic yerk < ?] 1. to pull, twist, push, thrust, or throw with a sudden, sharp movement ☆ 2. [Old Informal] to make and serve (ice cream sodas) vi. 1. to move with a jerk or in jerks 2. to twitch n …   English World dictionary

  • jerk — ► NOUN 1) a quick, sharp, sudden movement. 2) Weightlifting the raising of a barbell above the head from shoulder level by an abrupt straightening of the arms and legs. 3) informal, chiefly N. Amer. a contemptibly foolish person. ► VERB 1) move… …   English terms dictionary

  • Jerk — (j[ e]rk), v. t. [Corrupted from Peruv. charqui dried beef.] To cut into long slices or strips and dry in the sun; as, to jerk beef. See {Charqui}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Jerk — bezeichnet einen kinematischen Begriff, siehe Ruck eine Fleischzubereitung, siehe Beef Jerky Würzmischungen der kreolischen Küche, siehe Jerk Würzmischung einen Rap Tanz aus Los Angeles, siehe Jerk (Raptanz) plötzliche Änderung in der säkularen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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