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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | Perhaps from joll 'to hit' (15-19 centuries) + jot 'to knock against' (16-19 centuries) |
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jolt1
1 [intransitive and transitive] to move suddenly and roughly, or to make someone or something move in this way [= jerk]: We jolted along rough wet roads through an endless banana plantation.
We jolted along rough wet roads through an endless banana plantation.2 [transitive] to give someone a sudden shock or surprise : The phone jolted him awake.
The phone jolted him awake. jolt somebody into/out of something It jolted me into making the decision to quit. Her sharp words seemed to jolt him out of his depression.
It jolted me into making the decision to quit.Her sharp words seemed to jolt him out of his depression.