noun
Uncommon
dirk
durk
Dirk (noun) means a long dagger with a straight blade, traditionally associated with Scotland. Example: “The dirk was tucked into his belt as part of the Highland dress.”
noun
1
A long dagger with a straight blade, traditionally associated with Scotland.
"The dirk was tucked into his belt as part of the Highland dress."
2
A ceremonial dagger worn as part of a naval or military uniform.
"Officers carried a dirk as part of their formal dress uniform."
name
1
A male given name of German or Dutch origin.
"Dirk grew up in Amsterdam before moving abroad."
How to use dirk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA traditional Scottish dagger, or a ceremonial military dagger — also used as a first name.
Common pairings
wear a dirk
ceremonial dirk
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Word forms
- Plural
- dirks
- Third person singular
- dirks
- Past tense
- dirked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ was tucked into his belt as part of the Highland dress.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; first recorded in English around 1602, popularly linked to Scots and Scottish Gaelic though no clear source word has been confirmed.
Class of 1602
dirk joined the language around 1602.
See the full Class of 1602 →
Rhymes for dirk
See all rhymes for dirk →Frequently asked questions
What does “dirk” mean?
The word “dirk” means a long dagger with a straight blade, traditionally associated with Scotland. In plain terms, a traditional Scottish dagger, or a ceremonial military dagger — also used as a first name.
How do you pronounce “dirk”?
“Dirk” is pronounced durk (/dɝk/ in IPA).
How do you use “dirk” in a sentence?
Here is “dirk” used in a sentence: “The dirk was tucked into his belt as part of the Highland dress.”
What part of speech is “dirk”?
Depending on how it is used, “dirk” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “dirk” come from?
The word “dirk” dates back to around 1602 and comes from Scottish Gaelic. Origin uncertain; first recorded in English around 1602, popularly linked to Scots and Scottish Gaelic though no clear source word has been confirmed.
Is “dirk” a common word?
“Dirk” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dirk” have?
“Dirk” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long dagger with a straight blade, traditionally associated with Scotland.
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