jerkdʒɜrk(n.)

1. a quick, sharp pull, thrust, twist, or the like; sudden, abrupt movement.

2. a sudden involuntary muscle contraction, as of a reflex.

   Category: Physiology

3. Slang. a contemptibly naive, stupid, or insignificant person.

   Category: Status (usage)

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

   Category: Sport

5. the jerks, involuntary, spasmodic muscular movements, as from emotional tension.

6. (v.t.)to pull, twist, move, thrust, or throw with a quick, suddenly arrested motion:

   She jerked the child by the hand.

7. Informal. to prepare and serve (sodas, ice cream, etc.) at a soda fountain.

   Category: Informal

8. (v.i.)to give a jerk or jerks.

9. to move with a quick, sharp motion; move spasmodically.

10. Informal. to work as a soda jerk.

    Category: Informal

11. jerk around,to treat (someone) in a manipulative and deceitful manner.

    Category: Common Vocabulary

12. jerk off,Vulgar Slang. to masturbate.

    Category: Verb Phrase, Status (usage)

Origin of jerk:

1540–50; perh. dial. var. of yerk to draw stitches tight (shoemaker's term)

jerk′er(n.)

jerkdʒɜrk(v.t.)

1. to preserve (meat, esp. beef) by cutting in strips and drying in the sun.

   Category: Cooking

2. (adj.)being or containing a spicy seasoning mixture flavored with allspice, used esp. in Jamaican cooking:

   jerk sauce.

   Category: Cooking

3. prepared with jerk flavorings, esp. by barbecuing or grilling:

   jerk chicken.

   Category: Cooking

Origin of jerk:

1700–10; < AmerSp charquear, der. of charquijerky2