Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Sense: 1
Date: 1500-1600
Origin: JERK1
Sense: 2
Date: 1900-2000
Origin: Probably from jerk off

jerk

2 noun
     
jerk2 [countable]
1 a sudden quick movement:
He gave a sudden jerk of his head.
with a jerk
She started the car with a jerk and hit the bumper of the car in front.
2 informal someone, especially a man, who is stupid or who does things that annoy or hurt other people:
I swore at him for being such a jerk.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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