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 Cockney rhyming slang, hunt is used as a rhyme for cunt, giving the word its original slang meaning.

§Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /bɜː(ɹ)k/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)k
• Homophone: birk

pronunciation notes

In both Berkeley and Berkshire, berk is pronounced in RP like bark (IPA(key): /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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§Albanian

§Etymology 1

From berr (cf. derk from derr).

§Noun

berk m

1. goat

§Related terms

• berr

§Etymology 2

From Proto-Albanian *bardz(i)ka, from *bardza < bardhë 'white'. Similar sense development as in barmë.

§Noun

berk m (indefinite plural berkë, definite singular berku, definite plural berkët)

1. bast

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§Dutch

§Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛrk

• audio

  (file)

§Noun

berk m (plural berken, diminutive berkje n)

1. birch

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§Turkish

§Etymology

From Old Turkic bérk, from Proto-Turkic *berk (“mighty”), possibly derived from Proto-Altaic *parki ("mighty, brave"). Related to pek.

§Adjective

berk

1. strong, hard, robust, violent
2. heroic
3. firm, solid

§Synonyms

• sert, katı [1]
• sağlam [2]

§References

• “berk” in Nişanyan Sözlük
• Sergei Starostin, Vladimir Dybo, Oleg Mudrak (2003), Etymological Dictionary of the Altaic Languages, Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers: “*parki”