Definition of YERK

yerk

Plural: yerks

Verb

Verb Forms: yerked, yerking, yerks

  • To beat or strike vigorously; to lash out.
  • To stab (someone or something).
  • To throw or thrust with a sudden, smart movement; to kick or strike suddenly; to jerk.
  • To strike or lash with a whip or stick.
  • To rouse or excite.
  • To bind or tie with a jerk.

Noun

  • A sudden or quick thrust or motion; a jerk.

Examples

  • The player tried to YERK out a high-scoring word, but his tiles were uncooperative.

Origin / 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.

Synonyms

animate, awaken, chef, chib, ching, chive, electrify, enflame, enkindle, enthrill, exagitate, excite, exhilarate, exsuscitate, fillip, fire, fire the blood, foin, galvanize, gin up, gore, gride, ignite, inflame, intoxicate, jab, job, juke, kebab, kindle, knifecrime, lancinate, pigstick, pink, poach, quicken, rouse, run through, send, set fire to, set on fire, shank, sharpen, shiv, slash, spear, speet, splash, stab, stick, stir the blood, stob, stog, suscitate, thrill, thrust, vitalise, wake, warm the blood, whet, whip, wind up, work up, yerk

Scrabble Score: 11

yerk: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
yerk: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
yerk: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

yerk: valid Words With Friends Word