Selkirk

American

[sel-kurk] / ˈsɛl kɜrk /

noun

Alexander originally Alexander Selcraig, 1676–1721, Scottish sailor marooned on a Pacific island: supposed prototype of Robinson Crusoe.
Also called Selkirkshire. a historic county in southeastern Scotland.

Selkirk British

/ ˈsɛlˌkɜːk /

noun

Alexander. original name Alexander Selcraig. 1676–1721, Scottish sailor, who was marooned on one of the islets of Juan Fernández and is regarded as the prototype of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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 trainer, who is based in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, said he "usually would have a fiver or a tenner on them" which would have made a "nice payday".

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

It was only during the pandemic he opted to join his siblings by returning to the Scottish Borders, with him eventually settling in Selkirk.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

"The world is a rough place at the moment, and it's lovely to have something that is just for the sake of fun," said Selkirk.

From Barron's • Jan. 11, 2026

Inspired by an event which launched in New York in 2002, the challenge has become an annual ritual in London since 2009, said organiser Dave Selkirk.

From Barron's • Jan. 11, 2026

Immediately that they had quitted his shores, Selkirk would have looked at his resources with a new eye.

From Knowledge is Power: A View of the Productive Forces of Modern Society and the Results of Labor, Capital and Skill. by Knight, Charles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023