I. ˈyaŋk, -aiŋk noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: by shortening
: yankee
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. Scotland : a sudden hard blow
2. : a strong sudden pull : jerk
grabbed the weed and gave it a yank to uproot it
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to pull with a quick vigorous movement
angrily yanked the weed out by the roots
2. : to cause to go in a rude or abrupt manner
the offending copies were yanked out of the school libraries — Time
yanked before the school board to explain his statement
3. : to take out or away in a quick vigorous or rudely abrupt manner
have his tonsils yanked
he was yanked in the sixth when he issued three walks — New York Times
intransitive verb
: to pull on something with a quick vigorous movement
yanked at the door trying to open it
the other man yanked down on the halyard and the flags fell — Wirt Williams
Synonyms: see jerk