kirk English · revision 15519

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɜːk/ ''(UK)''; /kəɹk/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|kirke]], probably [[bor|non|kirkja|t=church]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) itself from Old English [[m|ang|ċiriċe]] (see [[church]]).^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ About 1200, in the ''Ormulum'', in Barnhart and Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In northern England it was once used as far south as Norfolk.^(OED 1989) It was used in literary Scots until the 17th century and survives in vernacular use;^(OED 1989) it is often cited as an example of northern dialect.^(Barnhart 1988) In official use the name Kirk of Scotland gave place to Church of Scotland,^(OED 1989) though ''the Kirk'' remains an informal name for the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) Kirkland, church land, is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – kirke.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1375 – in literary Scots.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – kirkland.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Scottish and northern England)'' A [[church]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The Kirk: the Presbyterian [[Church of Scotland]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[kirklike]]

+ * [[kirkman]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[church]]

+ * [[kirkyard]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}