[f. JERK v.1 + -ER1.]
1. One who jerks: in senses of the verb.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, 133. Yea Madam Gabriela, are you such an old ierker.
1598. Florio, Frustatore, a whipper, a scourger, a ierker.
1651. Triplett, On Dr. Gill (in D’Urfey, Pills (1719), IV. 263). Take heed … Lest you taste of his Lash, For I have found him a Jirker.
b. spec. One who makes involuntary spasmodic movements of the limbs or features, caused by religious excitement. Cf. JERK sb.1 2 b (b).
1851. S. Judd, Margaret, viii. (1871), 41. The jumpers of Wales were outdone by the jerkers of Kentucky.
1889. A. D. White, in Pop. Sci. Monthly, June, 148. Examples of this in America are seen in the ‘Jumpers,’ ‘Jerkers,’ and various revival extravagances.
2. U.S. A fish, the river-chub, Hybopsis kentuckiensis, also called hornyhead.
1890. in Cent. Dict.
Jerker2, variant of JERQUER.
