- I first heard this word when I asked my roommate if there were any other words he knew that meant to throw up. He said that one time he and his friends used the word yak to describe the action of throwing up simply because that’s what it sounded like. I also believe this may have been extended via metaphor from the word “yak” meaning to talk a lot. When you talk a lot your mouth opens a lot. This is what happens when you throw up. Yak might be used more than “throw up” because it’s shorter and it sounds funny.
Yak
verb; other word formation type Onomatopoeia
To throw up
Etymology : Yak comes from the sound made when throwing up or it may have been metaphorically extended from the word yak meaning to talk.
Source : That seafood made me yak all night. (conversation, Oct. 2008)
Last modified: 2 December 2008