yak

¹ American  

[yak] / yæk /

noun

1. a large, stocky, shaggy-haired wild ox, Bos grunniens, of the Tibetan highlands, having long, curved horns: endangered.

2. a domesticated variety of this animal.

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yak ² American  

[yak] / yæk /

Also yack,

verb (used without object)

yakked, yakking

1. to talk, especially uninterruptedly and idly; gab; chatter.

   They've been yakking on the phone for over an hour.

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noun

1. incessant idle or gossipy talk.

yak ³ American  

[yak] / yæk /

noun

Slang.

yakked, yakking

1. yuk.

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yak ¹ British  

/ jæk /

noun

1. Also: yakety-yak.  noisy, continuous, and trivial talk or conversation

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verb

1. (intr) to chatter or talk in this way; jabber

yak ² British  

/ jæk /

noun

1. a wild and domesticated type of cattle, Bos grunniens, of Tibet, having long horns and long shaggy hair

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Other Word Forms

• yakker noun

Etymology

Origin of yak¹

First recorded in 1785–95; from Tibetan gyag

Origin of yak²

An Americanism dating to 1820–25 for yakety-yak ( def. ) (noun)

Example Sentences

It could have ended in tragically had it not been for a well-coordinated rescue, with yaks and horses deployed to clear the snow.

From BBC

Non-stop snow, instant noodles and yaks: tales of being trapped on Everest.

From MarketWatch

This is the roof of the world where traffic gives way to yak herders on horseback whistling to reluctant, grunting cattle, as eagles circle above.

From BBC

One of them approaches a vendor selling barbecued strips of yak meat.

From BBC

The shipment of animals from Moscow also included two yaks, five cockatoos and dozens of pheasants as well as mandarin ducks, Kozlov's office said.

From BBC