firk meaning (obsolete): definition, etymology and quotations

firk

verb

/fɜː(ɹ)k/

Etymology From Middle English firken, ferken (“to proceed, hasten”), from Old English fercian (“to bring, assist, support, carry, conduct, convey, proceed”), from Proto-West Germanic *farikōn, frequentative of Proto-Germanic *faraną (“to travel, fare”). Akin to Old English faran (“to fare, go”), English fare; if so, equivalent to fare + -k. Cognate with Old High German fuora (“benefit, sustenance, support”), Swabian fergen, ferken (“to bring, dispatch”).

1

Obsolete To carry away or about; carry; move.

2

Obsolete To drive away.

I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him.1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:

3

Obsolete To rouse; raise up.

4

Obsolete To move quickly; go off or fly out suddenly; turn out.

A wench is a rare bait, with which a man / No sooner's taken but he straight firks mad.1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, (please specify the Internet Archive page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
Caſt care at thy poſternes; and firke i' thy fetters; / They are ornaments, Baby, haue graced thy betters: […]1616 October or November (first performance), Ben Jonson, The Diuell is an Asse: A Comedie […], London: […] I. B. for Robert Allot, […], published 1631, →OCLC, Act V, scene , page 164:

firk

noun

Etymology From Middle English firken, ferken (“to proceed, hasten”), from Old English fercian (“to bring, assist, support, carry, conduct, convey, proceed”), from Proto-West Germanic *farikōn, frequentative of Proto-Germanic *faraną (“to travel, fare”). Akin to Old English faran (“to fare, go”), English fare; if so, equivalent to fare + -k. Cognate with Old High German fuora (“benefit, sustenance, support”), Swabian fergen, ferken (“to bring, dispatch”).

1

A stroke; lash.

firk

noun

Etymology Probably an alteration of freak.

1

UK, Dialectal, Obsolete A freak; trick; quirk.

firk o' law1608, Lording Barry, Ram Alley:
a firk of piety1634, William Davenant, The Wits:

Derived terms: firkery