Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “chirk” come from?

chirk (English) comes from Middle English chirken, from Old English ċearcian, from Old Dutch krakōn, from Proto-Indo-European gerg-, from Proto-Indo-European ger- — to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

chirk (English): To become happier; To make happier; To make the...

Definitions

  1. To become happier; To make happier; To make the...

Ancestry of “chirk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishchirken—
2Old Englishċearcian—
3Old Dutchkrakōnto crack, creak, emit a cry
4Proto-Indo-Europeangerg-to shout; tracery, basket, twist; wicker, bend
5Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ger- →