berk

See also Berk, and bərk

English

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 used as a rhyme for cunt giving the word berk its original slang meaning.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /bɜː(ɹ)k/, SAMPA: /b3:(r)l/ɹ
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)k
• Homophone: birk

pronunciation notes

In both Berkeley and Berkshire, berk is pronounced in RP like bark (IPA: /bɑː(ɹ)k/). In other cases such as Cockney and American English pronunciaton, it rhymes with work.

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.

Usage notes

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

See also

• Belvoir (pronounced Beaver)

References

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

Anagrams

• kerb

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Dutch

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛrk

• audio

  (file)

Noun

berk m. (^??? please provide the plural and diminutive!)

1. birch

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Turkish

Etymology

From Old Turkic bérk, from Proto-Turkic *berk (“mighty”).

Adjective

berk

1. hard, violent
2. firm

Synonyms

• sert, katı [1]
• sağlam [2]