dirk
noun
a dagger, especially of the Scottish Highlands.
dirk
1 American
[durk]
/ dɜrk /
noun
verb (used with object)
Dirk
2
American
[durk]
/ dɜrk /
noun
dirk
British
/ dɜːk /
noun
verb
Etymology
Origin of dirk
1595–1605; originally Scots; of obscure etymology
Explanation
A dirk is a knife that was traditionally carried by Scottish Highland soldiers. A dirk is known as a thrusting or stabbing dagger. Though it's not common to hear the word dirk these days, the weapon was frequently carried by naval officers during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. As recently as World War Two, members of the Japanese navy used dirks in hand-to-hand combat. The word is associated with Scotland, although its precise origin is a little murky — it was originally spelled dork or durk, possibly from the Dutch dolk by way of the German dolch, or "dagger."
Vocabulary lists containing dirk
Life on the Mississippi
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
True Grit
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Russian leader was also said to have given Mr Kim a tea set and an admiral’s dirk – a dagger.
From BBC • Jun. 19, 2024
Prosecutors noted that the knife doesn’t qualify as a dirk or dagger under state law because it was a folding knife in a retracted position.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2022
Wisconsin's Joe McCarthy was itching for a chance to plant a dirk in the Administration's side, until he was reminded that Bridges stood by him in the censure episode.
From Time Magazine Archive
As a "midshipmite" he wore a smart sea jacket, carried a small ivory-handled dirk, emblem of the fact that he was neither an enlisted man nor yet an officer privileged to wear a sword.
From Time Magazine Archive
He whispered a prayer to the nameless gods of the wood, and slipped his dirk free of its sheath.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
