different between fyrk vs firk

English

Etymology

From Swedish fyrk, from Middle Low German vêreken, from ver/vier (“four”).

Noun

fyrk (plural fyrks)

1. (historical) The monetary unit of Sweden between the 15th and 17th centuries, valued at between one-sixth and one-half of an öre.

English

Alternative forms

• ferk

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /f??(?)k/
• Rhymes: -??(?)k

Etymology 1

From Middle English firken, ferken (“to proceed, hasten”), from Old English fercian (“to bring, assist, support, carry, conduct, convey, proceed”); perhaps akin to Old English faran (“to fare, go”), English fare; if so, equivalent to fare +? -k. Cognate with Old High German fuora (“benefit, sustenance, support”), Swabian fergen, ferken (“to bring, dispatch”).

Verb

firk (third-person singular simple present firks, present participle firking, simple past and past participle firked)

1. (transitive) To carry away or about; carry; move.
2. (transitive) To drive away.

   I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. - Shakespeare The Life of Henry the Fifth: IV, iv

3. (transitive) To rouse; raise up.
4. (intransitive) To move quickly; go off or fly out suddenly; turn out.
   • 1610, Ben Jonson, The Alchemist

     A wench is a rare bait, with which a man / No sooner's taken but he straight firks mad.

Noun

firk (plural firks)

1. A stroke; lash.

Etymology 2

Probably an alteration of freak.

Noun

firk (plural firks)

1. (Britain dialectal) A freak; trick; quirk.

Derived terms

• firkery