firk

Meanings

Verb

• To carry away or about; carry; move.
• To drive away.
• To rouse; raise up.
• To move quickly; go off or fly out suddenly; turn out.

Noun

• A stroke; lash.
• A freak; trick; quirk.

Origin

• From Middle English firken, ferken, from Old English fercian ("to bring, assist, support, carry, conduct, convey, proceed"); perhaps akin to Old English faran ("to fare, go"), English fare; if so, equivalent to fare + -k. Cognate with Old High German fuora ("benefit, sustenance, support"), Swabian fergen, ferken.
• Probably an alteration of freak.