kirk

¹

[kurk, kirk]

noun

1. Chiefly Scot. and North England.,  a church.

2. the Kirk, the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian), as distinguished from the Church of England or the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Kirk

²

[kurk]

noun

1. Grayson (Louis), 1903–1997, U.S. educator: president of Columbia University 1953–68.

2. a male given name.

kirk

¹

/ kɜːk, kɪrk /

noun

1. a Scot word for church

2. a Scottish church

Kirk

²

/ kɜːk, kɪrk /

noun

1. informal,  the Presbyterian Church of Scotland

Kirk

³

/ kɜːk /

noun

1. Norman. 1923–74, prime minister of New Zealand (1972–74)

Other Word Forms

• kirklike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kirk¹

1150–1200; Middle English (north and Scots ) < Old Norse kirkja church

Word History and Origins

Origin of kirk¹

C12: from Old Norse kirkja, from Old English cirice _church

Example Sentences

The 15th Century kirk, which stands next to Linlithgow Palace, was a place of royal worship and the site of Mary Queen of Scots' baptism.

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About 100 people from all aspects of Scottish life will take part in the cavalcade along the Royal Mile, arriving at the historic kirk at about 13:30.

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"After all," he said, "it is well known that Kate Forbes is a member of the free kirk, and there are certain things that logically, implicitly flow from that."

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Members of the community, school groups and charities donate, create and decorate trees for the event so that people can share in the heritage of the kirk.

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Some believe the writer avoided acknowledging their possible earlier origins for fear of upsetting the kirk.

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