yank
yank Lexical Profile
yank Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To pull with a sudden, sharp movement.
"He had to yank on the stubborn drawer several times before it finally slid open."
North American To remove or withdraw someone or something abruptly from a position, game, or circulation (informal).
"The coach decided to yank the starting pitcher after a difficult third inning."
• noun
A sudden, hard, or sharp pull.
"With one firm yank, she freed the tangled garden hose from beneath the bushes."
A native or inhabitant of the United States, or historically of New England or the northern states (usually capitalized as 'Yank' and used informally).
"The British pub owner warmly welcomed the group of visiting Yanks."
• Rhymes for yank
Word Origin & Etymology
The verb meaning 'to pull sharply' first appeared in 18th-century Scottish dialect and is likely of Germanic or imitative origin. The capitalized noun meaning 'an American' is a late 18th-century shortening of 'Yankee'.