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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WHIRKEN, v. Also whurken and erron. or corrupt form thwricken. tr. To choke, suffocate (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., whirken, whurken), to strangle (Rxb. 1825 Jam., whurken, 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in Eng. dial.; also intr. to be suffocated, as from thick smoke (Rxb. 1825 Jam., thwricken). [′ʍɪrkən]s.Sc. 1824 J. Telfer Border Ballads 62:
A rumbling noise they hearde aneathe, And a whirk'ning reek they fand.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Whurken't wi' asma.

[Mid.Eng., E.M.E. querken, whirken, to choke, strangle, deriv. form prob. of Scand. orig., ad. O.N. kverk, the throat. Cf. Norw. dial. kverkna, to be choked, O. Norw. kvirkja, O.N. kyrkja, to strangle. For th- forms cf. notes to Whang, White, and W, letter, 7. (2) (iii).]

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