v. Also 9 jirk. [Origin obscure: it has been conjecturally referred to It. cercare to search, which suits the form and sense; but historical evidence is wanting.
The agent noun JERQUER, jerker, is evidenced back to 1706, and ought to be formed from the vb.; but the latter is not known so early, nor does it appear how either word was connected with Italy.]
trans. a. To search (a vessel) for unentered goods: see next. b. now, To examine or search a ship’s papers in order to ascertain whether the captain’s and the customs officer’s lists of cargo agree, and to see that all the cargo has been duly ‘entered’ and described.
1820. Smugglers, I. x. 124–5. M‘Groul and M‘Bain engaged to meet him in the morning on board as soon as the Hazard was fairly in the harbour, and assist in jirking the vessel.
1843–63. W. Waterston, Cycl. Commerce, Jerquing, the search of a ship performed by a custom-house officer (called a jerquer), to ascertain if there are any unentered goods concealed.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Jerquing a vessel, a search performed by the jerquer of the customs, after a vessel is unloaded, to see that no unentered goods have been concealed.
