How do you use the word "dirk" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "dirk": Drunk Dirk thinks your fat pigeons are dancing.

Dirk Meaning

/dɜːk/

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA long Scottish dagger with a straight blade.

nounA ceremonial dagger worn by naval or air force officers in some nations' militaries; formerly, a fighting dagger used by sailors as a boarding weapon.

Sentence Examples

Drunk Dirk thinks your fat pigeons are dancing.

CEFR Practice Quiz

The pirate brandished a sharp ____ during the boarding attack.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

Drunk ____ thinks your fat pigeons are dancing.

Word Origin & History

Etymology unknown, apparently from Scots dirk. First attested in 1602 as dork, in the later 17th century as durk. The spelling dirk is due to Johnson's Dictionary of 1755. Early quotations as well as Johnson 1755 suggest that the word is of Scottish Gaelic origin, but no such Gaelic word is known. The Gaelic name for the weapon is biodag. Gaelic duirc is merely an 18th-century adoption of the English word. A possible derivation is from the North Germanic/Scandinavian personal name Dirk (short for Diederik), which is used of lock-picking tools (but not of knives or daggers). Alternatively a corruption of Low German Dulk, Dolk (“dagger”), ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *dalk, from Proto-Germanic *dulkaz, *dalkaz (“knife, dagger”), related to Saterland Frisian Dolk (“dagger”), West Frisian dolk (“dagger”), Dutch dolk (“dagger”), German Dolch (“dagger”).

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"The Claymore is worn on the left side, the dirk on the right, and the Skean Dhu in the stocking […]" — 1898, W.D.F Vincent, The Cutters' Practical Guide:

"In half a minute he had reached the port scuppers, and picked, out of a coil of rope, a long knife, or rather a short dirk, discolored to the hilt with blood." — 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

"In this kit was the ‘Officer of the Watch’ telescope from Dolland and Sons, presented to me by my godmother, Inman's Nautical Tables, a parallel ruler, and, of course, a dirk." — 1996, Frank Twiss, Social Change in the Royal Navy, 1924–1970:

"Roland Graeme has dirked Adam Woodstock — that is all.” ¶ “Good Heaven!” said the Lady, turning pale as ashes, “is the man slain?”" — 1820, Sir Walter Scott, The Abbot, archived from the original on 04 Jun 2014, Chapter the Fourth:

"For these offenses, I was informed privately, by a worthy English settler, who had been like me seduced by Mr. Birkbeck, they had hired a man to dirk me for ten dollars, the usual price of blood in this country, as Mr. Chichester says." — 1825, James Kirke Paulding, John Bull in America; or, the New Munchausen, page 127:

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