prep. Ere; before. [ Obs. ] Sylvester. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Sp. ] (Bot.) An herb; a plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word is much used in compound names of plants in Spanish; as, yerba buena [ Sp., a good herb ], a name applied in Spain to several kinds of mint (Mentha sativa, Mentha viridis, etc.), but in California universally applied to a common, sweet-scented labiate plant (Micromeria Douglasii). [ 1913 Webster ]

Yerba dol osa. [ Sp., herb of the she-bear. ] A kind of buckthorn (Rhamnus Californica). --
Yerba mansa. [ Sp., a mild herb, soft herb. ] A plant (Anemopsis Californica) with a pungent, aromatic rootstock, used medicinally by the Mexicans and the Indians. --
Yerba reuma. [ Cf. Sp. reuma rheum, rheumatism. ] A low California undershrub (Frankenia grandifolia). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See 1st & 2d Yard. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To throw out the heels; to kick; to jerk. [ 1913 Webster ]

They flirt, they yerk, they backward . . . fling. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To move a quick, jerking motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A sudden or quick thrust or motion; a jerk. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Yerked p. pr. & vb. n. Yerking. ] [ See Yerk. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To throw or thrust with a sudden, smart movement; to kick or strike suddenly; to jerk. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their wounded steeds . . .
Yerk out their armed heels at their dead masters. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To strike or lash with a whip. [ Obs. or Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. &yogh_;ern, &yogh_;eorne, AS. georn desirous, eager. See Yearn to long. ] Eager; brisk; quick; active. [ Obs. ] “Her song . . . loud and yern.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. See 3d Yearn. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ OE. &yogh_;eorne. See Yern, a. ] Eagerly; briskly; quickly. [ Obs. ] Piers Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

My hands and my tongue go so yerne. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Dan. jordnöd, Sw. jordnöt, earthnut. Cf. Jarnut. ] An earthnut, or groundnut. See Groundnut (d). [ Written also yarnut. ] [ 1913 Webster ]