Where does “yerk” come from?

yerk (English) comes from Middle English ȝerken, from Old English ġearcian, from Proto-Germanic garwakōną, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrebʰ- — to grab; gather up; rake; to seize, grab; to...

yerk (English): to stab; To throw or thrust with a sudden, smart...

Definitions

  1. to stab; To throw or thrust with a sudden, smart...

Ancestry of “yerk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishȝerkento move suddenly, excite, bind tightly, attack
2Old Englishġearcianto prepare, make ready, procure, furnish, supply;...
3Proto-Germanicgarwakōnąto prepare, supply
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrebʰ-to grab; gather up; rake; to seize, grab; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰrebʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic garwakōną →Every word from Old English ġearcian →