nark

¹

[nahrk]

noun

1. British Slang.,  a stool pigeon or informer.

2. Australian Slang.,  an annoying person.

verb (used without object)

1. British Slang.,  to act as a police informer or stool pigeon.

2. Australian Slang.,  to become annoyed.

nark

²

[nahrk]

noun

Slang.

1. a variant of narc.

nark

/ nɑːk /

noun

1. an informer or spy, esp one working for the police ( copper's nark )

2. a person who complains irritatingly

   an old nark

3. a spoilsport

verb

1. to annoy, upset, or irritate

   he was narked by her indifference

2. (intr) to inform or spy, esp for the police

3. (intr) to complain irritatingly

4. to nag someone

5. stop it!

Word History and Origins

Origin of nark¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from Romani word nāk, nak, nok “nose”; akin to Sanskrit nāsā “nose”; the r is unexplained; nose ( def. )

Origin of nark²

First recorded in 1875–80; of uncertain origin, perhaps from Romani nakh “nose,” later conflated with narc ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of nark¹

C19: probably from Romany nāk nose

Example Sentences

But when a Labour prime minister compares a Labour colleague to former Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss, you know just how narked he is by the whole thing.

Read more on BBC

"It's not just me, next time it won't be me, it could be one of my colleagues who is assaulted for being a copper's nark."

Read more on BBC

No 10 certainly hadn't planned for their ideas to get leaked, as they were to the BBC, and were mighty narked that they had.

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“The concept of ‘No 10 narks’, placed in departments to keep a close eye on ministers and civil servants, is gaining ground,” he said.

Read more on The Guardian

Parts of the press are narked that basically she isn’t Kate Middleton.

Read more on The Guardian

Related Words

• agent 
• informer 
• police officer 
• private eye 
• private investigator 
• prosecutor 
• reporter 
• sleuth 
• spy