jerk

1
[ jurk ]
See synonyms for jerk on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. any sudden, quick movement of the body, as in dodging something.

  2. Slang. a contemptibly rude, inconsiderate, or mean person:That jerk just cut me off!

  3. (in weightlifting) the raising of a weight from shoulder height to above the head by straightening the arms.

  4. jerks, British Informal. physical jerks.

  5. a dance, deriving from the twist, in which the dancers alternately thrust out their pelvises and their shoulders.

  6. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. to talk in a broken, spasmodic way.

  2. Informal. to work as a soda jerk.

  3. to dance the jerk.

Verb Phrases
  1. jerk off, Slang: Vulgar. to masturbate.

Origin of jerk

1
First recorded in 1540–50; 1935–40 for def. 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”

Other words from jerk

  • jerk·er, noun
  • jerk·ing·ly, adverb

Other definitions for jerk (2 of 2)

jerk2
[ 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

Origin of jerk

2
First recorded in 1700–10; back formation from jerky2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (1 of 2)

jerk1

/ (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

  1. (tr often foll by out) 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

  1. Also called: physical jerks (plural) British informal physical exercises

  2. (plural) US a slang word for chorea

  3. slang, mainly US and Canadian a person regarded with contempt, esp a stupid or ignorant person

Origin of jerk

1
C16: probably variant of yerk to pull stitches tight in making a shoe; compare Old English gearcian to make ready

Derived forms of jerk

  • jerker, noun
  • jerking, adjective, noun

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (2 of 2)

jerk2

/ (dʒɜːk) /


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

noun
  1. Also called: jerky jerked meat, esp beef

Origin of jerk

2
C18: back formation from jerky, from charqui

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012