Jerky
/ˈdʒɜːrki/
Definitions
2 meaningsDried, cured meat, often beef, that is high in protein and used as a snack.
/ˈdʒɜːrki/
Dried, salted meat
I always bring a bag of jerky when I go camping.
💡 Simply: Jerky is like a super-salty, chewy piece of meat that's been dried out. It's like a portable meat treat! Imagine you're going on a long car ride and need a snack—jerky is perfect. The dried meat stays good without needing refrigeration, making it great for hiking or road trips.
👶 For kids: Jerky is like dried meat snacks that are chewy and salty.
More Examples
Beef jerky is a good source of protein.
The store has a wide selection of different jerky flavors.
How It's Used
"He packed some jerky for his hiking trip."
"Beef jerky is a popular snack."
Moving or acting with sudden, abrupt, and uncontrolled movements; characterized by a lack of smoothness.
/ˈdʒɜːrki/
Characterized by quick, abrupt movements
The old video had jerky frames.
💡 Simply: When something's jerky, it's not smooth. Think of a car that jumps forward instead of smoothly accelerating. Or, a person with a nervous twitch—their movements would be jerky.
👶 For kids: If something is jerky, it means it moves in a quick, shaky way, not smoothly.
More Examples
Her jerky movements revealed her nervousness.
The ride on the rollercoaster was quite jerky at times.
How It's Used
"The patient exhibited jerky movements after the stroke."
"The old car made a jerky start."
From Spanish *charqui*, derived from Quechua *ch'arki* meaning 'dried, salted meat'.
Jerky has been used for centuries as a method of preserving meat for sustenance, particularly by indigenous people and explorers.
Memory tip
Think of a quick, easy, and protein-packed snack for on-the-go.
Word Origin
"dried, salted meat"