Webster's English Dictionary

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jerk

1. jerk \'j*rk\ vb [prob. alter. of yerk] 1: to give a quick suddenly 
   arrested push, pull, or twist to  2: to throw with a quick suddenly 
   arrested motion  3: to utter in an abrupt, snappy, or sharply broken manner 
    4: to mix and dispense (as sodas) behind a soda fountain  1: to make a 
   sudden spasmodic motion  2: to move in short abrupt motions or with 
   frequent jolts  3: to throw an object with a jerk  - jerk.er n
2. jerk n 1: a single quick motion of short duration  2a: jolting, 
   bouncing, or thrusting motions  2b: a tendency to produce spasmodic motions 
    3a: an involuntary spasmodic muscular movement due to reflex action  pl  
   3b1: CHOREA  3b2: involuntary twitchings due to nervous excitement  4: a 
   stupid, foolish, or unconventional person  5: the pushing of a weight from 
   shoulder height to a position overhead in w eight lifting
3. jerk vt [back-formation fr. 2jerky] : to cut (meat) into long slices or 
   strips and dry in the sun