church a yack
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
(or watch), to take the works of a watch from its original case, and put them into another one, to avoid detection.—See CHRISTEN.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “church a yack” mean?
(or watch), to take the works of a watch from its original case, and put them into another one, to avoid detection.—See CHRISTEN.
Is “church a yack” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.