different between yark vs yank

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /j??k/
• Rhymes: -??(?)k

Etymology 1

From Middle English ?arken, ?erken, from Old English ?earcian (“to prepare, make ready, procure, furnish, supply”), from Proto-Germanic *garwak?n? (“to prepare”), from Proto-Indo-European *g?reb?- (“to grab, take, rake”), equivalent to yare +? -k. Related to Old English ?earc (“ready, active, quick”), ?earu (“prepared, ready, equipped, complete, finished, yare”). More at yare.

Verb

yark (third-person singular simple present yarks, present participle yarking, simple past and past participle yarked)

1. (transitive, Britain dialectal) To make ready; prepare.
   • 1881, Walter Gregor, Notes on the Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland:

     [...] Yet thou hast given us leather to yark, and leather to bark, [...]

2. (transitive, obsolete) To dispose; be set in order for; be destined or intended for.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To set open; open.

Derived terms

• yarking

Etymology 2

Origin uncertain, probably originally imitative; compare jerk etc.

Alternative forms

• yerk

Verb

yark (third-person singular simple present yarks, present participle yarking, simple past and past participle yarked)

1. To draw (stitches etc.) tight.
2. To hit, strike, especially with a cane or whip.
3. To crack (a whip).
   • , Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.96:

     he would throw a Dagger, and make a whip to yarke and lash [tr. faisoit craqueter], as cunningly as any Carter in France.

Anagrams

• Kary, Kray, Kyra, kary-, kray

English

Etymology 1

Attested since 1822; from Scots yank. Unknown origin.

Pronunciation

• enPR: y?ngk, IPA^(key): /jæ?k/
• Rhymes: -æ?k

Noun

yank (plural yanks)

1. A sudden, vigorous pull (sometimes defined as mass times jerk, or rate of change of force).
2. (slang) A masturbation session.
   • 2012, Bonnie Dee, Summer Devon, Serious Play (page 81)

     He rested his hand on his bare chest, an innocent enough spot, but soon it drifted of its own accord down his stomach to slide beneath the waistband of his briefs. Fine. A quick yank would relieve the sexual tension that simmered in him.

Synonyms

• (sudden, vigorous pull): jerk, tug

Translations

Verb

yank (third-person singular simple present yanks, present participle yanking, simple past and past participle yanked)

1. (transitive) To pull (something) with a quick, strong action.
   • 2015, Elizabeth Royte, Vultures Are Revolting. Here’s Why We Need to Save Them., National Geographic (December 2015)[1]

     Now a white-backed rams its head down the wildebeest’s throat and yanks out an eight-inch length of trachea, ribbed like a vacuum hose.

2. (transitive, informal) To remove from distribution.

   They yanked the product as soon as they learned it was unsafe.

Synonyms

• (pull with a quick strong action): jerk, tug
• (remove from circulation): pull, recall

Derived terms

• yanker
• yank someone's chain

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “yank”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Etymology 2

Clipping of yankee

Noun

yank (plural yanks)

1. (often derogatory) A Yankee.

Scots

Etymology

Unknown; likely imitative. Compare whang (“a blow”).

Noun

yank (plural yanks)

1. a sudden tug, a jerk, a yank
2. a blow, a slap

Verb

yank (third-person singular present yanks, present participle yankin, past yankt, past participle yankt)

1. to jerk, to pull suddenly
2. to move quickly or in a lively manner