jerky

¹ American  

[jur-kee] / ˈdʒɜr ki /

adjective

jerkier, jerkiest

1. characterized by jerks or sudden starts; spasmodic.

2. Slang.  silly; foolish; stupid; ridiculous.

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jerky ² American  

[jur-kee] / ˈdʒɜr ki /

noun

1. meat, especially beef, that has been cut in strips and preserved by drying in the sun; jerked meat.

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jerky ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒɜːkɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by jerks; spasmodic

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jerky ² British  

/ ˈdʒɜːkɪ /

noun

1. another word for jerk 2

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• jerkily adverb
• jerkiness noun

Etymology

Origin of jerky¹

First recorded in 1855–60; jerk ¹ + -y ¹

Origin of jerky²

1840–50, alteration of charqui

Example Sentences

Individuals do jerky things every day and everywhere, but all the messages of this city’s culture are to be open, not narrow, and fair, not unjust.

From The Wall Street Journal

If, like my wife, you find that frustrating and unsatisfactory, the brand-name medical center offers you a pile of word jerky to chew on while you get your checkbook out.

From The Wall Street Journal

Consider the meteoric rise of Chomps, the jerky maker.

From The Wall Street Journal

When the suspect brought them snacks — bananas, beef jerky and sparkling water — Starr felt the ordeal had veered into the absurd.

From Los Angeles Times

My lunch selection probably didn’t help my field cred: a can of Diet 7-Up, $7 beef jerky, mixed nuts with sea salt.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bouncy
• bumpy