Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also jank) to trick, to tease.

1994		Quaker Oats Co. [competiton on instant oatmeal package] Hot Language: What does ‘gank move’ mean? A. to trick someone out of money. B. To dance poorly. C. To wreck something. D. To get into trouble.
1997–2001		Online Sl. Dict. 🌐 gank v 1. to obtain material through force and trickery.
2000		Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 jank Definition: to insult or make fun of another Example: Man, why you wanna jank me like that?

2. (also gee, jank) to rob, to steal.

1987		NWA ‘Dopeman’ 🎵 This bitch is tryin to gank me.
1994		Source July 76: All of a sudden he knew gankin’ and robbin’ and all this chronic and low ridin’. He ain’t never done that shit in his life.
1995		L. Stavsky et al. A2Z 41: gee – v. steal, shoplift.
2004		Eble Campus Sl. Apr. 3: gank – steal [...] Also jank.
2013		N. Knight ‘Not Even a Mouse’ in ThugLit Nov.-Dec. [ebook] Jello ganked nuggs from Sonny’s station.

3. (US black teen) to shoot someone.

1997–2001

Online Sl. Dict. 🌐 gank v [...] 2. to execute or murder, usually with a firearm. (‘I’m going to gank your happy ass.’).

4. in weak form of sense 2, to obtain, to get.

2007

W. Ellis Crooked Little Vein 227: Can you gank us an ashtray from the other room?