1853. Rev. E. Bradley, ['Cuthbert Bede'], Verdant Green, p. II. ch. iii. It was darkly whispered that the purlieus of Jericho would send forth champions to the fight.
From Jericho to June, phr. (common).—A long distance.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends. His kick was tremendous . . . he would send a man from Jericho to June.
Jerk, subs. (common).—1. In pl. = delirium tremens. For synonyms see Gallon-distemper.
2. in pl. (American).—Religious paroxysm.
1874. E. Eggleston, Circuit Rider, xii. These Methodis' sets people crazy with the jerks.
3. (old).—A retort; a jest; a quirk.
1653. Brome, Mad Couple well matched [in Five Newe Playes], p. 13. I charge you meddle not with my wife: you have had two or three jerks at her.
4. (old).—A stripe; a lash with a whip. Hence jerking (or yerking), adj. = lashing; stinging; jerk, verb., = to lash; and to cly the jerk (Old Cant) = to be whipped at the post.
1557-8. Jacob and Esau [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874). ii. 194]. Come on, ye must have three jerks for the nonce.
1597. Hall, Satires, ii. 6. He must ask his mother to define, How many jerkes she would his breech should line.
1598. Marston, Satyres, iii. Ne'er yerking him with my satyric whip.
1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight (Grosart, Wks.). iii. 203, If we heave a Booth we straight cly the jerk.
1653. Brome, The Damoiselle, in Wks (1872), ii. 448. I' faith she jerked that humour out of me.
5. (various).—A common verb of action, especially if rapid.
[Some combinations are: To jerk the cat = to vomit; to jerk the tinkler = to ring the bell; to jerk one's juice or jelly (also to jerk off) = to masturbate; to jerk chinmusic = to talk; to jerk a poem, article or book = to write; to jerk a gybe = to counterfeit a license; jerked, or jerked to Jesus (American) = hanged; in a jerk = instantly; Dr. Jerk = flogging schoolmaster.
1622. Head & Kirkman, English Rogue. A Jybe well jerked.
1651. On Dr. Gill, Master of St. Paul's School. In Paul's Churchyard in London, There dwells a noble Ferker. Take heed, you that passe, Lest you taste of his Lash, For I have found him a jerker.
1752. Foote, Taste (1781). The child has been two years and three quarters at school with Dr. Jerk near Doncaster.
1755. Johnson, Eng. Dict., s.v. Jerk. To strike up; to accost eagerly . . . is mere cant.
1772. G. A. Stevens, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 161. Put wine into wounds You'll be cured in a jerk.
1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist. Jerk the tinkler. . . . These words in plain English conveyed an injunction to ring the bell.
1872. S. L. Clemens ('Mark Twain'), Roughing It, p. 332. The thing I'm now on is to roust out somebody to jerk a little chin-music for us.
Jerker, subs. (common).—1. A tippler.
For synonyms see Lushington.
2. (common).—A chamberpot. For synonyms see It.
3. (nautical).—A steward.
4. (streets').—A prostitute. For synonyms see Barrack-hack and Tart. [See quot., but possibly, also, from jerk off = to masturbate].
1887. Walford, Antiquarian, p. 252. A jerker is a loose woman of the streets, and possibly comes from 'jerk' to accost eagerly.
