I. jerk ‧ y 1 /ˈdʒɜːki $ -ɜːr-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ jerk 2 ]
jerky movements are rough, with many starts and stops OPP smooth :
His skin was dry and hot, his breathing rapid and jerky.
The bus came to a jerky halt.
—jerkily adverb
—jerkiness noun [uncountable]
II. jerky 2 BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: American Spanish ; Origin: charqui , from Quechua ch'arki ]
American English meat that has been cut into thin pieces and dried in the sun or with smoke