Ilk

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪlk/
• Rhymes: -ɪlk

Alternative forms

• ilke

Origin

From Middle English ilke, from Old English ilca, from Proto-Germanic *ilīkaz, a compound of *iz and *-līkaz from the noun *līką ("body").

The sense of “type”, “kind” is from the application of the phrase ‘of that ilk’ to families: the word thus came to mean ‘family’.

Full definition of ilk

Adjective

1. (Scotland and Northern England) The same.

Usage notes

Used following a person’s name to show that he lives in a place of the same name, eg Johnstone of that ilk means Johnstone of Johnstone.

Noun

1. A type, race or category; a group of entities that have common characteristics such that they may be grouped together.
• Sinclair Jungle|25"Hinkydink” or “Bathhouse John,” or others of that ilk, were proprietors of the most notorious dives in Chicago...

Usage notes

In modern use, ilk is used in phrases such as of his ilk, of that ilk, to mean ‘type’ or ‘sort.’ The use arose out of a misunderstanding of the earlier, Scottish use in the phrase of that ilk, where it means ‘of the same name or place.’ For this reason, some traditionalists regard the modern use as incorrect. It is, however, the only common current use and is now part of standard English.

Synonyms

• kind
• likes
• sort
• type

Derived terms

• of that ilk