Yank n. : A jerk or twitch.

Yank v. t. : To twitch; to jerk.

Yank n. : An abbreviation of Yankee.

Example:
How many Australians use the work "Yank" affectionately, and how many use it derisively?

Taxonomy
Yankee, New England, Yank, United States, the Yankees, The American, Yankee Doodle, citizen, origin, residents, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Northerner, Dutch, Swamp Yankee, Kees, nickname, Yankee go home, Mathews.

Defination from the web:
Yank, has a few related meanings, often referring to someone of Northern U.S. origin or heritage. ... In certain Commonwealth countries, notably Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, "Yank" has been in common use since at least World War II, ...