shirk

First attested use in 1625–1635, apparently from association with shark (verb form), or from German Schurke (“rogue, knave”)[1].

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: shûk, IPA^(key): /ʃɜːk/
• (General American) enPR: shûrk, IPA^(key): /ʃɝk/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)k

shirk (third-person singular simple present shirks, present participle shirking, simple past and past participle shirked)

1. (transitive) To avoid, especially a duty, responsibility, etc.; to stay away from.
   • Hare

     the usual makeshift by which they try to shirk difficulties

2. (intransitive) To evade an obligation; to avoid the performance of duty, as by running away.

   If you have a job, don't shirk from it by staying off work.

   • Byron

     One of the cities shirked from the league.

3. (transitive) To procure by petty fraud and trickery; to obtain by mean solicitation.
   • Bishop Rainbow

     You that never heard the call of any vocation, […] that shirk living from others, but time from yourselves.

• See Thesaurus:shirk

shirk (plural shirks)

1. one who shirks

Borrowed from Arabic شِرْك‎ (širk).

shirk (uncountable)

1. (Islam) the unforgivable sin of idolatry

• mushrik

• Krish