Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
YANK, v., n.1, adj. [jɑŋk]
I. v. 1. To pull vigorously with a sharp, sudden movement, to jerk, twitch. Gen.Sc., also U.S.; to drive or force on energetically, lit. and fig. The form in a.1773 quot. may however be a mistake for yarket (see Yark, v., 1.).Dmf. a.1773 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. (1933–5) 80:
He's slippet o'er the Wanton Brown's nose And yanket him fast to the Gray Mare's tail.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 88:
Mony a lang winter night I hae seen yankit by wi' his glibe gab.Edb. 1900 E. H. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 116:
I yankit my arm oot o' the grip o' him.Kcb.4 1900:
A plowman after a good days work — ‘I yankit them on till I got the back o' the daurg broken.'Sc. 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 37:
Yank oot your orra boughs, my hert!Kcd. 1932 L. G. Gibbon Sunset Song 30:
And in she'd yank Andy by the lug.
2. To move quickly and vigorously, to spank along (Slg., Ayr., Wgt. 1974). Vbl.n. yankin, lively motion.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 1:
They went not forth like gaugers, A yanking on their cloots.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 52:
To the yankin' o' a fiddle.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 43:
Away ye gang doon, hard as ye can yank it.
Derivs.: (l) yanker, (i) a smart agile woman or man (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 496; Rxb. 1825 Jam.); (ii) an incessant talker (Gall., Rxb. 1825 Jam.); (iii) a smart blow, whack (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Cf. II. 2.; (iv) a tremendous lie, a “whopper”; (2) yankie, -y, (i) adj., nimble, agile; (ii) n., = (1)(i) (Lnk. 1822 G. R. Kinloch MS.); (3) yanking, ppl.adj., sharp and quick.(1) (i) Sc. 1931 J. Lorimer Red Sergeant v.:
That yanker maun be the madam they ca' the Laird o' Winterhope.(iv) Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man (1972) xii.:
Ay, billy, that is a yanker! When ane is gaun to tell a lie, there's naething like telling a plumper at aince.(2) (i) Edb. 1870 J. Smith Jenny Blair 37:
Ye'll soon mak it up; for ye're a yanky auld wife.(ii) Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 293:
A yankie that's young I will weild.(3) Sc. 1824 Scott St Ronan's W. ii.:
I canna bide their yanking way of knapping English at every word.
3. To cut (bread, etc.) in large slices (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Lth. 1974).
II. n. 1. A sudden jerk or pull (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Gen.Sc. Also in U.S.
2. A sudden severe blow, esp. with the hand, a buffet (Sc. 1825 Jam.); also fig. a cutting remark, a word of reproof. Phr. to gie or tak one a yank, to deal one a blow (Ib.).Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 199:
They'll clap his cheek and gie't a yank.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck xiv.:
1 took up my neive an' gae him a yank on the haffet.Sc. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man (1972) vii.:
The Laidlaws were the men for me; Pell-mell, yank for yank.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 260:
I . . . gaed them baith through the reek afore I made it oot; and Benjie tae got a bit yank in the by-gaun.
¶III. adj. Active, vigorous.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 55:
Alas! The Protestantism; For every wild polluting schism About her is sae yank.
