Where does “jerker” come from?

jerker (French) comes from English jerk, from Middle English yerk, from Old English ġearc — active, quick; ready, active, quick.

jerker (French): to dance the jerk

Definitions

  1. to dance the jerk

Ancestry of “jerker”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishjerkA sudden, often uncontrolled movement, especially...
2Middle Englishyerksudden motion
3Old Englishġearcactive, quick; ready, active, quick
Every word from Old English ġearc →Every word from Middle English yerk →Every word from English jerk →