yank

See also: Yank and þank

English

Etymology 1

Attested since 1822; from Scots yank. Unknown origin.

Pronunciation

• enPR: yăngk, IPA^(key): /jæŋk/

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æŋk

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

A sudden, vigorous pull

• Catalan: estrebada (ca) f
• Finnish: vetäisy, kiskaisu, riuhtaisu
• French: coup sec m
• Georgian: ნახტომი (naxṭomi)
• German: Ruck (de) m
• Persian: کشش ناگهانی
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Portuguese: puxão (pt)
• Russian: рыво́к (ru) m (ryvók), дёрганье (ru) n (djórganʹje)
• Spanish: tirón (es) m
• Swedish: ryck (sv) n

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

to pull something with a quick, strong action

• Dutch: rukken (nl), een ruk geven, sjorren (nl)
• Finnish: vetäistä, kiskaista (fi), riuhtoa, riuhtaista
• French: tirer d’un coup sec
• Italian: strappar via
• Japanese: 引っ張る (hipparu)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Maori: haukume
• Romanian: înșfăca (ro)
• Russian: дёргать (ru) (djórgatʹ), вырыва́ть (ru) (vyryvátʹ)
• Scottish Gaelic: slaod, tarraing
• Spanish: tirar de (es), dar un tirón, tironear (es)

to remove from distribution

• Finnish: vetää pois markkinoilta
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• German: aus dem Verkehr ziehen

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “yank”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Etymology 2

Clipping of yankee

Noun

yank (plural yanks)

1. (often derogatory) A Yankee.

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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
   • 1833, James Hogg, The Brownie of Bodsbeck‎^[2], page 51:

     I took up my neive an’ gae him a yank on the haffat till I gart his bit brass cap rattle against the wa’.

     I raised my fist and gave him a blow on the temple that made his little brass cap rattle against the wall.

Verb

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

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