Link Centre Dictionary

shirk

UK/ʃɜːk/ US/ʃɝk/ rare

verb

1.

avoid (one''s assigned duties)

  • “The derelict soldier shirked his duties”
Synonyms
2.

avoid dealing with

  • “She shirks her duties”

Origin

First use appears c. 1633, in the publications of Shackerley Marmion, apparently from association with shark (verb), or otherwise directly from German Schurke (“rogue, knave”).

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.