zerk

English

Etymology

After Austrian-born American inventor Oscar U. Zerk.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /zɝk/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /zɜːk/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)k

Noun

zerk (plural zerks)

1. A grease nipple.
   • 2005, Roger Welsch, From Tinkering to Torquing, page 99:

     The moral is, if you don't keep grease in those zerks, you're going to be replacing some expensive parts. To grease through a zerk, you simply push the business end of a grease gun onto the zerk—it will pop right on with a little pressure—and work the handle until a bit of grease can be seen oozing out of the joint you are lubricating.

   • 2007, Jim Allen, Jeep 4X4 Performance Handbook, page 97:

     A lot depends on which type of greaseable U-joint we are talking about. There are two basic types, those that have a zerk fitting at the center of the cross and those that are drilled but have the zerk in the cap. A tiny hole drilled down the center of a U-joint has no effect on strength but a zerk at the cross does.

   • 2014, Tim Gilles, Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair, 5th edition, page 206:

     Figure 14.12 Wipe off the end of a zerk fitting before attaching the grease gun.

Anagrams

• Rezk

Basque

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s̻erk/, [s̻e̞rk]

Pronoun

zerk

1. ergative indefinite of zer; what

Usage notes

See nork.

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch sarc, serc, from Vulgar Latin *sarcus, from Latin sarcophagus, from Ancient Greek σαρκοφάγος (sarkophágos).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /zɛrk/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: zerk
• Rhymes: -ɛrk

Noun

zerk m (plural zerken, diminutive zerkje n)

1. gravestone, headstone

Synonyms

• grafsteen

Derived terms

• grafzerk

Northern Kurdish

Alternative forms

• zerik

Noun

zerk f

1. yolk

See also

• zerde f
• zerdik f
• zere f
• zerik f