Perhaps from joll (“to knock, strike”) + -t (frequentative suffix).
Meanings
An act of jolting.
Timing your first coffee for mid-morning allows the caffeine to work its magic right as your body’s natural energy starts to wane. Instead of a jolt, you get a smooth, effective lift that carries you through the late morning and into the afternoon. 2025 August 22, “The Perfect Caffeine Kick: When is the Best Time to Drink Coffee for Energy?”, in Mochas & Javas:
A surprise or shock.
(slang) A long prison sentence.
Just sit down and look around for a while. Notice your cell, John. Take a good look at it, because it is going to be your home for the next ten years. Sure! You have just gotten a ten-year "jolt," John; so settle down and be a good prisoner. 1949, American Journal of Correction, page 24:
After three "jolts" in prison, three separate periods of incarceration, Braly decided to try his hand at writing. 1994, Eric Cummins, The Rise and Fall of California's Radical Prison Movement, page 30:
But blow wise to this, buddy, blow wise to this: Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Mom's. Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own. Never let nobody talk you into shaking another man's jolt. And never you cop another man's plea. I've tried 'em all and I know. They don't work. 1958, Nelson Algren, A Walk on the Wild Side, page 312:
"How long did she do after I left the joint" / "About a year or so. They wanted to parole her. […]" Mae wrinkled her forehead. “It's hard to figure out, sometimes.” Again she frowned heavily. “I don't give a damn myself—I'm a thief, and nothing they can ever do will hurt me. But Mrs. Loring, now, she was different. That jolt did hurt her bad. […]" 1998, H. Bruce Franklin, editor, Prison Writing in 20th-Century America:
(slang) A narcotic injection.
The rate of change in acceleration with respect to time.
bg тръскане (act of jolting) · sv stöt (act of jolting) · de Waxhrüttler (surprise or shock) · sv ryck (act of jolting) · hu rázkódás (act of jolting) · uk шок (surprise or shock) · nl ontnuchtering (surprise or shock) · de Schuss (narcotic injection) · nl schokken (act of jolting) · hu megrázkódtatás (surprise or shock) · nl botsen (act of jolting) · ru уда́р (surprise or shock) · de Schock (surprise or shock) · bg друсане (act of jolting) · bg шок (surprise or shock) · cs škubnutí (act of jolting) · ka ნჯღრევა (act of jolting) · hu löket (act of jolting) · fr secousse (act of jolting) · uk двигіт (surprise or shock) · fr soubresaut (act of jolting) · uk струс (surprise or shock) · hu zökkenő (act of jolting) · de Stoß (act of jolting) · ka ნძრევა (act of jolting) · de Gerüttel (act of jolting) · uk поштовх (act of jolting) · cs otřes (surprise or shock) · de Rucken (act of jolting) · hu löket (narcotic injection) · hu meglepetés (surprise or shock) · de Ruck (act of jolting) · de Stoßen (act of jolting) · cs trhnutí (act of jolting) · nl schok (surprise or shock) · ru шок (surprise or shock) · hu rángatózás (act of jolting) · nl verrassing (surprise or shock) · gd crathadh (act of jolting) · cs cuknutí (act of jolting) · de Denkzettel (long prison sentence) · hu lövés (narcotic injection) · cs šok (surprise or shock) · fr à-coup (act of jolting) · de Aufrüttler (surprise or shock) · ru толчо́к (act of jolting) · de Geschüttel (act of jolting) · fi tärinä (act of jolting) · nl horten (act of jolting) · ru встря́ска (surprise or shock) · bg разтърсване (surprise or shock) · fi shokki (surprise or shock) · hu zökkenés (act of jolting) · ru тря́ска (act of jolting) · fi järkytys (surprise or shock) · sv skakning (act of jolting) · hu zötykölődés (act of jolting) · uk трясіння (act of jolting) · fi tärähdys (act of jolting) · hu döccenés (act of jolting)
fi täräyttää (to deal a blow to) · cs kodrcat se (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · ru потряса́ть (to shock emotionally) · pt sacudir (to push or shake) · uk трясти (to push or shake) · hu döccen (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · uk стрясати (to shock emotionally) · fi täristää (to push or shake) · hu lök (to push or shake) · uk стрясати (to push or shake) · ka ნძრევა (to push or shake) · sh tresati se (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · de einen Schlag versetzen (to deal a blow to) · tr sarsmak (to push or shake) · es traquetear (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · hu döccent (to push or shake) · hu kizökkent (to shock into taking action) · it sballottare (to push or shake) · ru трясти́ (to push or shake) · fi töniä (to shock into taking action) · ka ნჯღრევა (to push or shake) · ru встрево́жить (to shock emotionally) · nl hobbelen (to push or shake) · nl kwetsen (to shock emotionally) · de erschüttern (to shock emotionally) · de durchrütteln (to push or shake) · fi heilahdella (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · hu zötyög (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · bg друсам (to push or shake) · ru тряхну́ть (to push or shake) · hu felráz (to shock into taking action) · hu megráz (to shock emotionally) · hu döcög (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · ka ბიძგი (to shock into taking action) · bg задействам (to shock into taking action) · hu rácsap (to deal a blow to) · sh potresti (to shock emotionally) · bg разтърсвам (to push or shake) · bg удрям силно (to deal a blow to) · de rütteln (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · wa cahossî (to push or shake) · fr ballotter (to push or shake) · cs škubnout (to push or shake) · sh tresati (to push or shake) · nl ontnuchteren (to shock emotionally) · fr cahoter (to push or shake) · nl in de war brengen (to shock into taking action) · de ruckeln (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · de schwer treffen (to shock emotionally) · es sacudir (to shock emotionally) · cs trhnout (to push or shake) · hu sokkol (to shock emotionally) · fi järkyttää (to shock emotionally) · nl schokken (to push or shake) · nl verwarren (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · it sobbalzare (to push or shake) · hu rángat (to push or shake) · hu megüt (to deal a blow to) · hu lökdös (to push or shake) · fi vaappua (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · gd crath (to push or shake) · wa kihossî (to push or shake) · ca sotraguejar (to push or shake) · hu ráz (to push or shake) · hu rávág (to deal a blow to) · bg потреса́вам (to shock emotionally) · es sacudir (to push or shake) · ka რხევა (to push or shake) · de wachrütteln (to shock into taking action) · it sbalzellare (to push or shake) · hu zötykölődik (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · de holpern (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · cs cuknout (to push or shake) · ru потрясти́ (to shock emotionally) · hu rázkódik (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · sh tresnuti (to deal a blow to) · cs zamávat (to shock emotionally) · fi ravistaa (to push or shake) · fi lyödä (to deal a blow to) · eo ekskuiĝi (to push or shake) · fr tressauter (to push or shake) · it squassare (to push or shake) · fi tönäistä (to shock into taking action) · bg разтъ́рсвам (to shock emotionally) · ru трястись (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · uk шокувати (to shock emotionally) · uk трястися (to shake, move with a series of jerks) · hu zötyköl (to push or shake) · de schütteln (to push or shake) · it scuotere (to push or shake) · cs otřást (to shock emotionally) · hu zökkent (to push or shake) · fr secouer (to push or shake) · de aufrütteln (to shock into taking action) · mi rutu (to deal a blow to)