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jerky
1[ jur-kee ]
adjective
- characterized by jerks or sudden starts; spasmodic.
- Slang. silly; foolish; stupid; ridiculous.
jerky
2[ jur-kee ]
noun
- meat, especially beef, that has been cut in strips and preserved by drying in the sun; jerked meat.
jerky
1/ ˈdʒɜːkɪ /
adjective
- characterized by jerks; spasmodic
jerky
2/ ˈdʒɜːkɪ /
noun
- another word for jerk 2
Derived Forms
- ˈjerkiness, noun
- ˈjerkily, adverb
Other Words From
- jerki·ly adverb
- jerki·ness noun
Word History and Origins
Example Sentences
“There’s no jerky motions or throwing of weights. And it can increase your circulation — you get greater blood flow while activating your muscles. So you’re adding a cardiovascular benefit for something that’s typically anaerobic.”
Their differences play out against a backdrop of jerky, sensual rhythms and dark emotions.
Some good options include Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, jerky, canned fish, eggs, and nuts.
I am the proud owner of a four-generation beef jerky company that has called Los Angeles home for nearly 100 years.
Pack protein bars, dried meats such as chicken jerky, dried fruits, nuts and canned goods with a manual can opener.
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More About Jerky
What does jerky mean?
Jerky describes something that involves a lot of jerks, meaning sudden movements.
Jerky also means meat that has been cut into strips and then dried or smoked.
As an adjective, jerky describes something as having irregular, jarring movement, as in It was a long, jerky ride on the carriage thanks to the uncooperative horses.
In this sense, the adverb jerkily means in a jerky movement, as in The wagon bounced jerkily over the rocky path.
The noun form of this sense is jerkiness, as in The jerkiness of the airplane flight quickly made me feel sick.
Jerky is also meat that has been sliced into strips that are then smoked or dried. The term jerked meat is also used to refer to this food. In this sense, jerky is used as both a singular and plural, as in I ate a piece of jerky from the bag of jerky Tom brought on the hike.
Example: The jerky movements of the bull threw the cowboy to the ground.
Where does jerky come from?
The first records of jerky come from around 1670. The adjective comes from the noun jerk, meaning “a sudden movement.” The noun is an Americanism that comes from an alteration of the American-Spanish term charqui, meaning “dried meat.”
In the United States, beef is the most commonly used meat to make jerky, and nearly every grocery store sells bags of beef jerky. However, jerky can be made out of any kind of meat, including alligator, kangaroo, ostrich, and alpaca, which would be considered unusual in the United States.
Jerky can also be used as slang to mean “stupid” or “foolish.” In this sense, jerky is an insult and people described as jerky would not be happy about it.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to jerky?
- jerkily (adverb)
- jerkiness (noun)
What are some synonyms for jerky?
What are some words that share a root or word element with jerky?
What are some words that often get used in discussing jerky?
How is jerky used in real life?
The word jerky more often refers to dried meat.
Headed up to Seattle to check in on UW. Thought I'd take the train. Imagined it as quaint experience. More like a jerky carnival ride.
— Chantel Jennings (@ChantelJennings) September 20, 2016
First time doing jerky. Marinated flank for 22 hours and now on the @PitBossGrills at 200F for 5 hours. Not sure what I’m doing exactly but it smells like jerky so that’s a good start. Any pro tips? pic.twitter.com/D6Ljd6EfE1
— Dusty Trotts (@DustyTrotts801) January 12, 2021
Just tried vegan beef jerky with my dog. I ate the first piece, she ate the remaining all of them.
— Elton Castee (@EltonCastee) June 12, 2019
Try using jerky!
Which of the following words would most likely be used with jerky?
A. fruit
B. drink
C. meat
D. bread
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