Etymology Attested since 1822; from Scots yank. Unknown origin.
1
To pull (something) with a quick, strong action.
Now a white-backed rams its head down the wildebeest’s throat and yanks out an eight-inch length of trachea, ribbed like a vacuum hose.2015 December, Elizabeth Royte, “Vultures Are Revolting. Here’s Why We Need to Save Them.”, in National Geographic, archived from the original on 13 Dec 2015:
[Regarding risks of AI] And you just have to have somebody close to the power cord. [Laughs.]^([sic]) Right when you see it about to happen, you gotta yank that electricity out of the wall, man.2016 October, Scott Dadich, quoting Barack Obama, “Barack Obama Talks AI, Robo Cars, and the Future of the World”, in Wired, →ISSN:
In the dark protection of the auditorium and his Baltimore cape, with two coiled females only inches beneath his feet, completely in his power and ignorant of the invisible force that held them captive, only this shadow knew, the True Dildough, with great pleasure and tremendous gutsy motions, yanked his full-grown penis to a gigantically pleasurable orgasm.1978, Larry Kramer, Faggots, New York, N.Y.: Random House, →ISBN, pages 68–69:
Halt! come down there, you Yanks, come down!1865, unnamed Confederate officer, according to Lieutenant Joseph E. Moody, U.S.V., “Life in Confederate Prisons”, in Civil War Papers, Volume II, Massachusetts Commandery (1900), page 368
“I do wish I might of found you in my sights when you was with them damn Yanks,” Abner added.1944, Howard Fast, Freedom Road, M.E. Sharpe, published 1995, →ISBN, page 33:
1 more example
Corporal Bob explained, “The Yanks has tha best weapons. But us Rebs know how to shoot tha damn things. […]”2004, O. K. Williams, The Way the Cards Fall, Trafford Publishing, →ISBN, page 16:
› A native or inhabitant of some part of the… › Someone from the northern United States.
The smart and inventive turn of the modern Yank has made him a specialist in ingenious devices, straight or crooked. Unpickable locks and invincible lock-pickers, burglar-proof safes and safe-specializing burglars, come equally from the States.1914, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados:
“This time,” he General Alphonse-Pierre Juin] told the Yanks, “you have not crossed to win new victories but to preserve peace. […]”1951 June 11, “The Yanks Are Coming: U.S. shows world we are playing for keeps as 4th Division leaves to join Eisenhower's NATO army”, in Life, page 38:
yank
noun
Etymology Attested since 1822; from Scots yank. Unknown origin.
1
A sudden, vigorous pull (sometimes defined as mass times jerk, or rate of change of force).
He rested his hand on his bare chest, an innocent enough spot, but soon it drifted of its own accord down his stomach to slide beneath the waistband of his briefs. Fine. A quick yank would relieve the sexual tension that simmered in him.2012, Bonnie Dee, Summer Devon, Serious Play, page 81:
Tell my young bad, she can vouch for me I was only thirteen with a yank on me2024 September 7, “Movie Star” (0:57 from the start), #ALG Grimzo x Alsz Gambino (lyrics):