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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CHIRK, CHARK, Cherrk, Chairk, Churk, v. and n. Also misprinted chuk (Edb. 1865 M. Barr Poems 70). Cf. Chork. [tʃɪ̢rk, tʃɑrk, tʃɛrk, tʃerk, tʃʌrk]

1. v.

(1) To make a harsh, strident noise, to creak (as of a door). Known to Abd.², Fif.¹⁰, Kcb.¹⁰ 1939.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads II. 338:
The doors will chirk; the bands will cheep.Gsw. 1937 Glasgow Herald (7 Aug.) 4:
I [a saw] canna chow a whit as I chark; And bide byordinar' thin.Gall. c.1820 J. MacTaggart in Bards of Gall. (ed. Harper 1889) 207:
O! hatefu' it's to hear the whut-throat chark Frae oot the auld taff-dike.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
The door's chairkin'.

Hence chairkie, chirky, “a species of spurge, Euphorbia Peplus (or E. Helioscopia), especially growing in gardens. (When pressed, the milky juice squirts out with a creaking sound)” (Ib.).

(2) Of the teeth or gums: to gnash, rub (together); “to make a grating noise, as the teeth do, when grinding any gritty substance, accidentally mingled with one's food” (Dmf. 1825 Jam.²). Known to Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Fif.¹⁰ 1939. Vbl.n. cherkin'. Cf. Chirt, v., 2 (2).Sc. 1808 Jam.:
To chirk with the teeth, also actively, to chirk the teeth, to rub them against each other.Kcb. 1896 S. R. Crockett Grey Man x.:
The ancient rascal beat merrily on the floor with his stick and charked together his toothless gums.s.Sc. 1856 H. S. Riddell St Matthew viii. 28:
But the childer o' the kingdom sall be casan out intill outer mirk: ther sall be greetin' an' cherkin' o' teeth.

†(3) “To be habitually complaining, to be constantly in a querulous humour” (Dmf. 1825 Jam.²).Sc. 1755 Session Papers, Blair v. Harle (1 Dec.) 52:
He has heard People reflect on Mr Harle's Character, as sharp in his Dealings, and chirking.m.Sc. 1991 William Neill in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 52:
D'ye mind hou Hamlet wad aye girn an chirk
wi aw yon speik: tae be or no tae be.

(4) To make a chirrupping noise, as a bird, or insect, or as a ploughman makes to his horses to encourage them. Not known to our correspondents. Cf. Cheerik. Also ppl.adj. chirikin.Mearns 1933 “L. G. Gibbon” in Scots Mag. (Jan.) 251:
Jock laughed. Fegs, then, I'll not greet for that, and chirked to his horses and turned them about.Ags. 1898 A. H. Rea Divot Dyke 36:
The capercailzie up the glen Was churkin' loodly to his hen.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 104:
The chirikin chirlin chook o a blackie
on the shedruif in the gairden ae day
in simmer.s.Sc. 1826 Scots Mag. (March) 300:
The dead hares, and croaking corbies, and cherking pyets.

Hence chirker, charker, chairker, cherker, the house-cricket, Gryllus domesticus (Dmf. 1825 Jam.²; 1889 J. Shaw in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 149, chirker; w.Dmf. 1899 J. Shaw Country Schoolmaster 345, charker, cherker; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., chairker).Dmf. 1891 J. Corrie in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 80:
That humble little animal the house-cricket, or “charker,” as it is locally called.

(5) With up: to cheer up. Chirk up and chirp — are both recorded in D.A.E.Bnff. 1923 “C.” in Bnffsh. Jnl. (19 June) 8:
I wis chirkin' up a bittie ye see, bit Mullie's winna be richt or he get anidder [dram].

2. n. “The sound made by the teeth, or by any hard body, when rubbed obliquely against another” (Sc. 1825 Jam.²); “a harsh grating or creaking noise” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., chairk).