insignificant and out-of-the-way. An early
American term for a small train on a
branch railway; also a small town of little consequence, something of trifling
importance. The
term comes from water being "jerked" (i.e., drawn) by the bucketful into
steam trains in need of replenishing their
supply. So this
individual became an
instructor in
mechanical engineering at a small university, some jerkwater university-University of
California.
(informal) a small or unimportant town. Originally a
term for a small train on a
branch railway. In such out of the way situations, water was "jerked" (i.e., drawn) by the bucketful into
steam trains in need of replenishing their
supply.
insignificant and out-of-the-way. An early
American term for a small train on a
branch railway; also a small township of little consequence, something of trifling
importance. In such out of the way situations, water was "jerked" (i.e., drawn) by the bucketful into
steam trains in need of replenishing their
supply.