Where does “jerk” come from?
Jerk comes from Middle English yerk, from Old English ġearc, of uncertain ultimate origin.
jerk (English): A sudden, often uncontrolled movement, especially...
Definitions
- A sudden, often uncontrolled movement, especially...
Ancestry of “jerk”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | yerk | sudden motion |
| 2 | Old English | ġearc | active, quick; ready, active, quick |
Words derived from “jerk”