Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lurk” come from?

Lurk comes from Middle English lurken, from Old Norse lurka, of unknown origin.

lurk (English): To remain concealed in order to ambush; To remain...

Definitions

  1. To remain concealed in order to ambush; To remain...

Ancestry of “lurk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlurken—
2Old Norselurkato sneak away, go slowly

Words derived from “lurk”

  • lurking
  • lurker
  • lurketh
  • lurkest
  • lurky
  • lurkingly
  • delurk
  • photolurker
  • photolurking
  • delurker
  • lurkership
  • lurkingness
  • lurksome
  • lurkiness
  • lurken
Every word from Old Norse lurka →