lirk

English

Alternative forms

• lurk, lerk, lairk, lark

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)k

Etymology 1

From Middle English lyrken, from Old Norse lerka (“to plait, fold, bind, lace up tightly, chastise”), related to Old Norse lurkr (“cudgel, club”) (see Proto-Celtic *lorgā).

Verb

lirk (third-person singular simple present lirks, present participle lirking, simple past and past participle lirked)

1. (transitive, UK dialectal) To jerk.
2. (transitive, UK dialectal) To crease; rumple; cause to hang in loose folds.
3. (intransitive, UK dialectal, Scotland) To become creased or wrinkled.

Etymology 2

From Middle English lerke, from the verb. See above.

Noun

lirk (plural lirks)

1. (transitive, UK dialectal) A crease; rumple; fold.
2. (transitive, UK dialectal, Scotland) A fold in the skin; a wrinkle.