Jerk | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Jẽrk, v. t.

verbtransitive

(14), v. t. [imp. & p. p. JERKED (jẽrkt); p. pr. & vb. n. JERKING.] [Written also yerk, O. Eng. yirk. Cf. O. Eng. girk, a rod, to chastise, to beat; O. Eng. jerk, also to beat; Icel. jarki, the outside edge of the sole of the foot, a kick.]

Sense 1. To throw with a quick effort; to move by a quick and suddenly arrested motion; to give a sudden pull, twitch, thrust, or push; as, to jerk one under the ribs; to jerk one with the elbow; to jerk a stone.

I thought to have jerked him here under the ribs. Shak.

Sense 2. To cut into thin slices or strips and dry in the sun; as, to jerk beef.

Jẽrk, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. To accost eagerly. [Obs.] Dryden.

Jẽrk, v. i.

verbintransitive

To make a sudden motion; to start quickly; to move with a start, or by starts.

By the way he jerked at some men's reforming to models of religion. Milton.

Jĕrk, n.

noun

n. 1. A short, sudden thrust, push, or twitch; a striking against something with a suddenly arrested motion; as, a jerk of the elbow. His jade gave him a jerk. B. Jonson. 2. A motion by momentary impulse; unsustained or unsteady motion. Lobsters swim by jerks. Grew.