Etymology unknown, apparently fromScotsdirk.First attested in 1602 asdork, in the later 17th century asdurk. The spellingdirk is due to Johnson's Dictionary of 1755.
Early quotations as well as Johnson 1755 suggest that the word is ofScottish Gaelic origin, but no such Gaelic word is known. The Gaelic name for the weapon isbiodag. Gaelicduirc is merely an 18th-century adoption of the English word.
The Claymore is worn on the left side, thedirk on the right, and the Skean Dhu in the stocking […]
(nautical) Aceremonialdagger worn by naval or air force officers in some nations' militaries; formerly, a fighting dagger used by sailors as aboarding weapon.
In half a minute he had reached the port scuppers, and picked, out of a coil of rope, a long knife, or rather a shortdirk, discolored to the hilt with blood.
1996, Frank Twiss,Social Change in the Royal Navy, 1924–1970:
In this kit was the ‘Officer of the Watch’ telescope from Dolland and Sons, presented to me by my godmother, Inman's Nautical Tables, a parallel ruler, and, of course, adirk.
1820, Sir Walter Scott,The Abbot[1], archived fromthe original on4 June 2014, Chapter the Fourth:
Roland Graeme hasdirked Adam Woodstock — that is all.” ¶ “Good Heaven!” said the Lady, turning pale as ashes, “is the man slain?”
1825, James Kirke Paulding,John Bull in America; or, the New Munchausen[2], page127:
For these offenses, I was informed privately, by a worthy English settler, who had been like me seduced by Mr. Birkbeck, they had hired a man todirk me for ten dollars, the usual price of blood in this country, as Mr. Chichester says.
Unlikely not to have come from the same murky origins asdork, despite sound variation amongdick-dirk-dork. Influence fromder seems plausibly intermixed.
