yank

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

yank, n. [Cf. Scot. yank a sudden and severe blow.].

 A jerk or twitch.  [1913 Webster]

yank, v. t. 

 To twitch; to jerk.  [1913 Webster]

yank, n. 

 An abbreviation of Yankee.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

yank, n. colloq. often derog. an inhabitant of the US; an American.

Etymology

abbr.

yank, v. & n. colloq.
--v.tr. pull with a jerk.
--n. a sudden hard pull.

Etymology

19th c.: orig. unkn.

THESAURUS

yank

bob, clutch, evulse, flick, flip, flirt, flounce, grab, hitch, jerk, jig, jigger, jigget, jiggle, jog, joggle, jolt, lug, lurch, pluck, pull, snake, snap, snatch, start, sudden pull, tear, tug, tweak, twitch, vellicate, wrench, yerk

ROGET THESAURUS

yank

Traction

VB draw, pull, haul, lug, rake, drag, tug, tow, trail, train, take in tow, wrench, jerk, twitch, touse, yank.