ilk

¹

[ilk]

noun

1. family, class, or kind.

   he and all his ilk.

adjective

1. same.

ilk

²

[ilk]

pronoun

1. each.

adjective

1. each; every.

ilk

¹

/ ɪlk /

noun

1. a type; class; sort (esp in the phrase of that, his, her, etc, ilk )

   people of that ilk should not be allowed here

2. of the place of the same name: used to indicate that the person named is proprietor or laird of the place named

   Moncrieff of that ilk

ilk

²

/ ɪlk, ˈɪlkə /

determiner

1. each; every

Usage

Although the use of ilk in the sense of sense 1 is sometimes condemned as being the result of a misunderstanding of the original Scottish expression of that ilk , it is nevertheless well established and generally acceptable

Word History and Origins

Origin of ilk¹

before 900; Middle English ilke, Old English ilca (pronoun) the same, equivalent to demonstrative i (cognate with Gothic is he, Latin is that) + a reduced form of līc like ¹; which, such

Origin of ilk²

before 900; Middle English ilk, north variant of ilch, Old English ylc (pronoun) each

Word History and Origins

Origin of ilk¹

Old English ilca the same family, same kind; related to Gothic is he, Latin is, Old English gelīc like

Origin of ilk²

Old English ǣlc each (+ _a ¹ )

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. of that ilk,

   1. (in Scotland) of the same family name or place.

      Ross of that ilk, i.e., Ross of Ross.

   2. of the same class or kind.

Example Sentences

Like others of its ilk and era, the carousel includes horses carved by the famous artist Charles Looff, creator of the Santa Monica Pier.

From Los Angeles Times

Fascists, authoritarians and demagogues of various ilk know this intimately.

From Salon

Americans are so myopic about their own history, if not downright ignorant, that some minorities think they’re being welcomed into the Heritage Americans fold by Vance and his ilk.

From Los Angeles Times

For years, I tried to keep quiet about my past, in hopes that my parents and their ilk would leave me alone.

From Salon

"I constantly meet pensioners who live very comfortably. I go to the cinema and the theatre regularly and they are packed with my ilk, most of whom don't need this money."

From BBC