jolt
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdʒoʊɫt// UK //dʒˈəʊlt// jolt
n. a sudden, sharp movement or a strong shock that surprises you. It can be a physical shake or a sudden emotional surprise.
n. a sudden, abrupt movement or a sharp emotional shock. Often used to describe a physical impact or a sudden realization that causes a startle response.
The car stopped with a sudden jolt.
The news of the unexpected merger gave the employees a jolt of anxiety about their job security.
A sudden jolt from the earthquake sent books flying off the shelves and woke the entire neighborhood in the middle of the night.
Perhaps from joll (“to knock, strike”) + -t (frequentative suffix).
Usage
Often appears in the phrase 'a jolt of' followed by an abstract noun like 'energy', 'electricity', or 'surprise'.