subs. (American).—1. A YANKEE (q.v.): ‘an abbreviation universally applied by the Confederates to the soldiers of the Union armies’ (BARTLETT).
1890. O. THANET, Expiation, in Scribner’s Magazine, vii. Feb., 242. ‘He’d of shot him, if he hadn’t skedaddled. Had ever’thing ready an’ him under gyuard.’ ‘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, The Brownie of Bodsbeck, xiv. I … gae him a YANK on the haffat tell I gart his bit brass cap rattle against the wa’.
1824. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, ii. I cannot bide their YANKING way.
1876. A. D. T. WHITNEY, Sights and Insights, I. xxix. A YANKING old horse, and a wretchedly uncomfortable saddle.
1880. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), A Tramp Abroad, xxii. He … moistens his hands, grabs his property viciously, YANKS it this way, then that.
1888. KIPLING, Only a Subaltern. Bobby, 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. C. D. WARNER, Their Pilgrimage, 201. I don’t see the fun of being YANKED OVER all the United States in the middle of August.
1890. T. A. JANVIER, The 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, ‘On Marriage.’ YANK ON to one gal, a fair screamer.
1900. FLYNT, Tramping with Tramps, 278. The watchman scouted around, and found three of ’em 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.’
