Welk

Origin

Probably from a continental Germanic language; compare Dutch welken, German welken.

Full definition of welk

Verb

1. (obsolete) Of a plant: to wither, wilt, decay.
2. (obsolete) To diminish; to lose brightness, to wane.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.i.23:As gentle Shepheard in sweete euentide,
  When ruddy Phoebus gins to welke in west ....
• MiltonThe church, that before by insensible degrees welked and impaired, now with large steps went down hill decaying.
3. (dialectal) to soak, steep.
4. (dialectal) to thrash, beat severely.
5. To contract; to shorten.
• SpenserNow sad winter welked hath the day.

Noun

1. Alternative form of whelk

Anagrams

• kewl