noun
Meaning 1
A sudden or quick thrust or motion; a jerk.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
yerk
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/jɜː(ɹ)k/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)k
verb
Meaning 2
To stab (someone or something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: foin, speet, chef, chib, ching, chive, enthrill, gore, gride, jab, job, juke, kebab, knifecrime, lancinate, pigstick, pink, poach, run through, shank, shiv, spear, splash, stab, stick, stob, stog, thrust, yerk
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To throw or thrust with a sudden, smart movement; to kick or strike suddenly; to jerk.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To strike or lash with a whip or stick.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Scotland, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: slash, whip
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To rouse or excite.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Scotland, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: exhilarate, quicken, animate, awaken, electrify, enflame, enkindle, enthrill, exagitate, excite, exsuscitate, fillip, fire, fire the blood, galvanize, gin up, ignite, inflame, intoxicate, kindle, rouse, send, set fire to, set on fire, sharpen, stir the blood, suscitate, thrill, vitalise, wake, warm the blood, whet, wind up, work up, yerk
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To bind or tie with a jerk.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English ȝerken (“to move suddenly, excite, bind tightly, attack”), from Old English ġearcian (“to prepare, make ready”), compare ġearc (“active, quick”), from Proto-Germanic *garwakōną (“to prepare”), from Proto-Indo-European *ghrebh- (“to grab, take”). Cognate with jerk; see yare for more cognates.