berk

From Wiktionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 See also 1.3.3 References 2 Dutch 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Noun

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

The usage is dated to the 1930s. A shortened version of Berkeley Hunt, the hunt based at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. In the Cockney rhyming slang, hunt is made to rhyme with cunt giving the word berk its original slang meaning.

[edit] Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)k

  In both Berkely and Berkshire, berk is pronounced like bark. In other cases such as Cockney and American English pronunciaton, it rhymes with "work".

[edit] Noun

berk (plural berks)

1. (UK, slang, pejorative) A fool, prat, twit.
2. (UK, slang) An idiot, in an affectionate sense.
3. (Cockney rhyming slang, vulgar) Cunt.

[edit] Usage notes

It is not perceived to be excessively rude, perhaps because whilst it is known for being a slang word, its real meaning is not well known.

[edit] See also

• Belvoir (pronounced Beaver)

[edit] References

• Chambers Dictionary: Entry for berk
• Cassell's Dictionary of Slang. Jonathon Green. Pub. Cassel & Co. ISBN 0-304-35167-9

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[edit] Dutch

[edit] Pronunciation

•  audio^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

berk m. (plural berken, diminutive berkje)

1. birch