yak

¹

[yak]

noun

1. a large, stocky, shaggy-haired wild ox, Bos grunniens, of the Tibetan highlands, having long, curved horns: endangered.

2. a domesticated variety of this animal.

yak

²

Also yack,

[yak]

verb (used without object)

yakked, yakking 

1. to talk, especially uninterruptedly and idly; gab; chatter.

   They've been yakking on the phone for over an hour.

noun

1. incessant idle or gossipy talk.

yak

³

[yak]

noun

Slang.

yakked, yakking 

1. yuk.

yak

¹

/ jæk /

noun

1. Also: yakety-yak. noisy, continuous, and trivial talk or conversation

verb

1. (intr) to chatter or talk in this way; jabber

yak

²

/ jæk /

noun

1. a wild and domesticated type of cattle, Bos grunniens, of Tibet, having long horns and long shaggy hair

Other Word Forms

• yakker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of yak¹

First recorded in 1785–95; from Tibetan gyag

Origin of yak²

An Americanism dating to 1820–25 for yakety-yak ( def. ) (noun)

Word History and Origins

Origin of yak¹

C20: of imitative origin

Origin of yak²

C19: from Tibetan gyag

Example Sentences

It could have ended in tragically had it not been for a well-coordinated rescue, with yaks and horses deployed to clear the snow.

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Non-stop snow, instant noodles and yaks: tales of being trapped on Everest.

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This is the roof of the world where traffic gives way to yak herders on horseback whistling to reluctant, grunting cattle, as eagles circle above.

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One of them approaches a vendor selling barbecued strips of yak meat.

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The shipment of animals from Moscow also included two yaks, five cockatoos and dozens of pheasants as well as mandarin ducks, Kozlov's office said.

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