jerk

¹

[ jurk ]

noun

1. a quick, sharp pull, thrust, twist, throw, or the like; a sudden movement:

   The train started with a jerk.

2. a spasmodic, usually involuntary, muscular movement, as the reflex action of pulling the hand away from a flame.
3. any sudden, quick movement of the body, as in dodging something.
4. Slang. a contemptibly rude, inconsiderate, or mean person:

   That jerk just cut me off!

5. (in weightlifting) the raising of a weight from shoulder height to above the head by straightening the arms.
6. jerks, British Informal. physical jerks ( def ).
7. a dance, deriving from the twist, in which the dancers alternately thrust out their pelvises and their shoulders.
8. the jerks, paroxysms or violent spasmodic muscular movements, as resulting from excitement evoked by some religious services.

verb (used with object)

1. to pull, twist, move, thrust, or throw with a quick, suddenly arrested motion:

   She jerked the child by the hand.

2. to utter in a broken, spasmodic way.
3. Informal. to prepare, dispense, and serve (sodas, ice cream, etc.) at a soda fountain.

verb (used without object)

1. to give a jerk or jerks.
2. to move with a quick, sharp motion; move spasmodically.
3. to talk in a broken, spasmodic way.
4. Informal. to work as a soda jerk.
5. to dance the jerk.

verb phrase

1. Slang: Vulgar. to masturbate.

jerk

²

[ jurk ]

verb (used with object)

1. to preserve (meat, especially beef) by cutting in strips and curing by drying in the sun.

adjective

1. being or containing a spicy seasoning mixture flavored with allspice, used especially in Jamaican cooking:

   jerk sauce.

2. prepared with jerk flavorings, especially by barbecuing or grilling:

   jerk chicken.

noun

1. jerky ².

jerk

¹

/ dʒɜːk /

verb

1. to move or cause to move with an irregular or spasmodic motion
2. to throw, twist, pull, or push (something) abruptly or spasmodically
3. troften foll byout to utter (words, sounds, etc) in a spasmodic, abrupt, or breathless manner

noun

1. an abrupt or spasmodic movement
2. an irregular jolting motion

   the car moved with a jerk

3. informal.
   Also calledphysical jerks plural physical exercises
4. plural a slang word for chorea
5. slang.
   a person regarded with contempt, esp a stupid or ignorant person

jerk

²

/ dʒɜːk /

verb

1. to preserve (venison, beef, etc) by cutting into thin strips and curing by drying in the sun

noun

1. Also calledjerky jerked meat, esp beef

Derived Forms

• ˈjerker, noun
• ˈjerking, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• jerk·er noun
• jerk·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of jerk¹

First recorded in 1540–50; 1935–40 jerk ¹fordef 4; earlier gi(e)rk, ierke; origin uncertain; perhaps dialectal variant of yerk “to draw stitches tight” (shoemaker's term), thus making the shoe ready to wear, from Old English gearcian “to prepare, make ready”

Origin of jerk²

First recorded in 1700–10; back formation from jerky ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of jerk¹

C16: probably variant of yerk to pull stitches tight in making a shoe; compare Old English gearcian to make ready

Origin of jerk²

C18: back formation from jerky, from charqui

Example Sentences

He voiced frustration at the duo prematurely giving up its “lucky place on top of the world” and expressed he needed space from Simon, whom he called an “idiot” and “jerk” in the interview.

From Los Angeles Times

If they're feeling lonely or alienated, being a jerk results in being shunned even more, especially by women.

From Salon

So that I don't feel like a jerk because I'm not being helpful, and you don't feel alone.

From Salon

And it’s reasonable to wonder whether those C-suites are hoping to hedge their bets in advance of a very, very tight presidential election in which one of the candidates is a vindictive jerk with a massive grudge against the legacy media.

From Slate

Writer-director Sylvester Stallone’s attempt to merge a musical with a “Rocky”-like” plot is ham-fisted, ripping off “A Chorus Line” and “All That Jazz,” stripping Tony of his charm and vulnerability and converting him into a self-absorbed jerk.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bounce
• bump
• fling
• flop
• hurtle
• jolt
• lug
• snatch
• thrust
• tug
• twitch
• wiggle
• wrench
• wriggle
• wring
• yank