n. & v.
—n.
1 a sharp sudden pull, twist, twitch, start, etc.
2 a spasmodic muscular twitch.
3 (in pl.) Brit. colloq. exercises (physical jerks).
4 sl. a fool; a stupid person.
—v.
1 intr. move with a jerk.
2 tr. pull, thrust, twist, etc., with a jerk.
3 tr. throw with a suddenly arrested motion.
4 tr. Weight-lifting raise (a weight) from shoulder-level to above the head.
Phrases and idioms:
jerk off coarse sl. masturbate.
Usage:
Usually considered a taboo use.
Derivatives:
jerker n.
Etymology: 16th c.: perh. imit.
2.
v.tr. cure (beef) by cutting it in long slices and drying it in the sun.
Etymology: Amer. Sp. charquear f. charqui f. Quechua echarqui dried flesh
Useful english dictionary. 2012.