1890. Scribner's Mag., 242. 'He'd ev shot him, if he hadn't skedaddled.' 'Well, sir! what fur?' 'Oh, jest jawhawkin' a Yank, and burnin' his heouse down.'
2. (provincial).—In pl. = leggings.
Verb (colloquial).—1. Generic for quick, sharp, or jerking motion; to bustle, twitch, snatch, move quickly, work smartly; usually with along, over, out, etc. As subs. (or yanker) = a smart stroke, jerk, or twitch; yanking = active, pushing, thorough-going; to yank the bun = 'to take the cake' (q.v.).
1818. Hogg, Brownie of Bodsbeck, xiv. I gae . . . him a yank on the haffat tell I gart his bit brass cap rattle against the wa'.
1825. Scott, St. Ronan's Well, ii. I cannot bide their yanking way.
1870. Whitney, Sights and Insights, xxix. A yanking old horse and a wretchedly uncomfortable saddle.
1880. Clemens, A Tramp Abroad. He moistens his hands, grabs his property vigorously, yanks it this way, then that.
1888. Kipling, Only a Subaltern. When the butt of a room goes on the drink, or takes to moping by himself, measures are necessary to yank him out of himself.
1890. Warner, Their Pilgrimage, 201. I don't see the fun of being yanked over all the United States in the middle of August.
1891. Janvier, Aztec Treasure-house, x. I guess th' best thing we can do is t' yank our traps out of that cave an' get started again.
1893. Milliken. 'Arry Ballads, 77. Yank on to one gal, a fair screamer.
1900. Flynt, Tramps, 278. The watchman scouted around, and found three of them in a box-car, and yanked 'em all up.
2. (colloquial).—To chatter, scold, nag; to talk fast and incessantly. Hence yankie = a chatterbox, one who talks 'nineteen to the dozen.'
Yankee (Yankey or Yanky), subs.
(American).—1. A citizen of
New England; 2. (mostly
European) = a native of the
United States: also Yankee-doodle.
Also as adj. with
derivatives such as Yankeedom,
Yankeefied, Yankeeism, etc.
[Of dubious and much-discussed
derivation: see quots. and adj.
sense.] Yankee-nation = the
United States. [Century: The
word acquired wide currency during
the war of the rebellion as a
nickname or contemptuous epithet
among the Confederates for a
Union soldier, the confederates
themselves being in like spirit
dubbed Johnnies or Rebs by the
Union soldiers: see Yank.]
1765. Oppression [Webster]. From meanness first this Portsmouth Yankey rose, And still to meanness all his conduct flows.
1768. Boston Jour. of the Times, Sept. [The first mention in print of the famous air.] Those passing in boats observed great rejoicings, and that the Yankee Doodle song was the capital piece in the band of music.
1775. Gordon [Letter quoted in Notes and Queries (1852), 57]. They [the British troops at Concord and Lexington] were roughly handled by the Yankees, a term of reproach for the New Englanders, when applied by the regulars.
1809. Irving, Knickerbocker, 276. Codfish, tinware, apple-brandy . . . wooden bowls, and other articles of Yankee barter.
1822. Heckewelder, Indian Nations, 132. No doubt the word was the first effort of the Indians to imitate the sound of the national name of the English, which they pronounced Yengees. The Indians 'say they know the Yengees [i.e. the New Englanders], and can distinguish them by their dress and personal appearance, and that they were considered as less cruel than the Virginians, or Long Knives. The English proper they call Saggenash.'
1848. Cooper, Oak Openings, xxviii. The sobriquet of Yankees which is in every man's mouth.
