SHIRK • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Shirk

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/ʃərk/ Listen

verb

Shirk v. t. (past & past part. shirked; pres. part. shirking)

To procure by petty fraud and trickery; to obtain by mean solicitation. "You that never heard the call of any vocation,... that shirk living from others, but time from Yourselves."

To avoid; to escape; to neglect; implying unfaithfulness or fraud; as, to shirk duty. "The usual makeshift by which they try to shirk difficulties."

Shirk v. i.

To live by shifts and fraud; to shark.

To evade an obligation; to avoid the performance of duty, as by running away. "One of the cities shirked from the league."

noun

Shirk n. One who lives by shifts and tricks; one who avoids the performance of duty or labor.

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Etymology of 'Shirk'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Shirk" Quotes from Famous Books

... farmer boy, a tiller of the soil, I liked the work—I never was a chap to shirk from toil. But I thought I'd choose a broader life (I must have been an ass). I took on in the Army—and now I'm ...

— Rhymes of the Rookies • W. E. Christian

... with the flour and then the salt. Rub into this the cold grease (which may be lard, cold pork fat, drippings) until there are no lumps left and no grease adhering to bottom of pan. This is a little tedious, but don't shirk it. Then stir in the water and work it with spoon until you have a rather stiff dough. Have the pan greased. Turn the loaf into it and bake. Test center of loaf with a sliver when you think it properly done. When no ...

— Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts • Girl Scouts

... think it a great pity that he had not settled himself ashore in a good city practice," continued Dr. Ferris. "He had a great knack at pleasing people and making friends, and he was always spoiling for want of work. I was ready enough to shirk my part of that, you may be sure, but if you start with a reasonably healthy set of men, crew and officers, and keep good discipline, and have no accidents on the voyage, an old-fashioned ship-master's kit of numbered doses is as good as anything on board ...

— A Country Doctor and Selected Stories and Sketches • Sarah Orne Jewett

... When Margaret heard the news, she turned white as a sheet; and at this triumph of British arms my joy was far outweighed, Mr. Faringfield's grief multiplied, by fears lest Philip, who we knew would shirk no danger, had met a fate similar to his commander's. But subsequent news told us that he was a prisoner, though severely wounded. We comforted ourselves with considering that he was like to receive good nursing from the French nuns of Quebec. And ...

— Philip Winwood • Robert Neilson Stephens

... soon, but make up your mind that you will do as much as possible, and make yourself so necessary to your employer that he will never let you go. You have been a good son to me, and I can truly say that I have never known you to shirk. Be as good in business, and I am sure ...

— Stories Worth Rereading • Various

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