Third person singular or plural of 'yank': to pull something suddenly and forcefully; or as a noun, plural of 'Yank,' a nickname for Americans.
Origin of the verb 'yank' is unclear, possibly from Scandinavian languages. First recorded in American English around 1800. 'Yank' as a proper noun emerged during the American Revolution.
The term 'Yank' was originally used disparagingly by the British during the Revolution, but Americans completely owned it and turned it into a badge of pride—one of the few insults that got flipped by the people it targeted!
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