therk

Middle English

FWOTD – 21 December 2021

Alternative forms

• therke, thirke, thyrke, þerk, þerke

Etymology

Probably a blend of derk +‎ thester.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /θɛrk/

Adjective

therk

1. dark, dim
   • c. 1300, Sir Beues of Hamtoun (Auchinleck Manuscript)‎^[1], folio 190, verso, column 2, lines 2612–2615:

     and he aȝen wiþ ſtrong bataile / ſo betwene hem leſte þat fiȝt / Til it waſ þe þerke niȝt

     Then he [went] again with a strong force; / the fight between them lasted / until the night grew dark.

2. confusing, obscure

Descendants

• English: thark (dialectal, obsolete)

References

• “therk(e, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.