• Berk

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /bɜː(ɹ)k/
    • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)k
    • Homophones: birk
    pronunciation notesIn both Berkeley and Berkshire, berk is pronounced in RP like bark (IPA: /bɑː(ɹ)k/). In other cases such as Cockney and American English pronunciaton, it rhymes with work.

    Origin

    The usage is dated to the 1930s. A shortened version of Berkeley Hunt, the hunt based at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. In the Cockney rhyming slang, hunt is used as a rhyme for cunt giving the word berk its original slang meaning.

    Full definition of berk

    Noun

    berk

    (plural berks)
    1. (British, slang, pejorative) A fool, prat, twit.
    2. (British, slang) An idiot, in an affectionate sense.
    3. (Cockney rhyming slang, vulgar) Cunt.

    Usage notes

    It is not perceived to be excessively rude, perhaps because, whilst it is known for being a slang word, its origin in rhyming slang is not well known.

    Anagrams

    © Wiktionary
    • © 2013 - 2023 All Rights Reserved