Forms: 1 clerec, (cliroc), 1–3 cleric, 1–7 clerc, 3 clærc, (gen. pl. 2–3 clerkene, 4 clerken), 3–7 clerke, 4 klerk, 5–6 clerck(e, 5–7 clarke, 5–8 clark, 6 clarcke, 6–7 cleark(e, 4– clerk. [OE. had cleric, clerec, clerc, immed. from Latin; the last of these forms coincided with OF. clerc:—Romanic type *clerco:—L. clēric-us, -um (cf. Pr. clerc, clergue, clerge, Sp. clerigo, It. chierico): see CLERIC. The original sense was ‘man in a religious order, cleric, clergyman.’ As the scholarship of the Middle Ages was practically limited to the clergy, and these performed all the writing, notarial, and secretarial work of the time, the name ‘clerk’ came to be equivalent to ‘scholar,’ and specially applicable to a notary, secretary, recorder, accountant or penman. The last has now come to be the ordinary sense, all the others being either archaic, historical, formal or contextual.
The pronunciation klārk is evidenced in the south of England from the 15th c.; cf. bark, hark, dark, etc., from earlier -er; also serjeant, hearth, Cherwell, Hertford, and the 15–17th c. clargy. The dialects, esp. the northern, have retained the e, as Sc. klerk, klerk. In U.S. the pronunciation is klərk, and of late this has become somewhat frequent in London and its neighbourhood.]
1. A man ordained to the ministry or service of the Christian Church; a churchman, clergyman or ecclesiastic. (For greater distinction, CLERIC is now often substituted.)
a. Before the Reformation, and in R. C. Church, a member of any of the eight orders (though sometimes excluding the bishop). Hence, the distinction, clerk in holy orders, clerk in minor orders: see quot. 1844.
c. 1050. O. E. Vocab., in Wr.-Wülcker, 308. Clericus, preost oððe cleric.
1129. O. E. Chron. (Laud Ms.). Se oðer het Gregorius; he wæs clerc.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 472. That no bissop, ne clerc nathemo, Ne solde withoute kinges leue out of this lond go. Ibid., 496. Alle clerkene lefmen in prisoun the king brouȝte.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems, 53. Clerke hys to segge, an Englysch, Eyr of Godes werke.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. IV. 119. Til clerken coueitise be to clothe þe pore and to fede.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., IV. (1520), 32/2. He decreed that Clerkes sholde were no berdes nor longe heere.
1584. Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 32. The Clarkes of the Church of Winchester did choose him for their Bishop.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. (1617), 186. Services, Offices, and Orders ecclesiastical, the first of which three and in part the second may be executed by the laity, whereas none have or can have the third but the clergy. Catechists, Exorcists, Readers, Singers, and the rest of like sort … may in that respect seem clergymen, even as the Fathers for that cause term them usually Clerks.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. 487. Torniellus is a regular Clerk of the congregation of St. Paul.
1661. Bramhall, Just Vind., iv. 61. Wilfride was an Arch-Bishop, not an inferiour clerk.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), II. xii. 230. The clergy were divided into two classes, one of inferior clerks in minor orders, and employed as lectors, cantors, acolythists, exorcists, and doorkeepers; and the other of clerks in holy orders, deacons, and mass-thanes, whose office it was to minister at the altar and to offer the sacrifice.
b. Since the Reformation, in England generally = ‘clerk in holy orders,’ i.e., a deacon, priest or bishop. Now chiefly a legal or formal designation.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), Pref. They zealously withstand the couetousness of Patrones, in reiecting their vnsufficient Clearkes.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxxi. § 2. The placing of one clerk in two churches.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc. (1647), 365. The Bishop, or his Clerks.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 184. In the general Acceptation of the Word, all Persons were stiled Clerks, that served in the Church of Christ; whether they were Bishops, Priests, or Deacons.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 423–4. A living … became vacant. Hough and his ejected brethren assembled and presented a clerk.
1858. Ld. St. Leonards, Handy Bk. Prop. Law, xxv. 187. No advowson can be recovered by any person after three clerks in succession have held the same adversely if the times … amount to 60 years.
2. Before the Reformation, sometimes applied esp. to members of the five ‘minor orders’ as distinct from the higher or ‘holy orders.’
c. 975. Laws Edgar C. 4 (Bosw.). We læraþ ðæt preosta ʓehwilc to sinoþe hæbbe his cleric.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12897 (Gött.). Selcuth it was … Þe klerk for to baptiz þe preist.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, D iiij a. A spare hawke, and he is an hawke for a prest … A Mufkyte, and he is for an holiwater clerke.
1537. Will of H. Monmouth, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. App. xc. 251. Item, I wyl have no mo Preestes and Clerks at my funeral mass than do serve dayly in our parysh church.
b. Hence, since the Reformation, applied to laymen who perform such of these offices as are retained in cathedrals, churches or chapels. In the Prayer-book of 1549, the Clerks were the choir men; in later times, the Clerk, or Parish Clerk, is the lay officer of a parish church, who has charge of the church and precincts, and assists the clergyman in various parts of his duties, e.g., by leading the people in responses, assisting at baptisms, marriages, etc. In other senses, usually with some distinctive epithet, as Bible Clerk, a scholar who reads the Scripture lessons in some ancient college chapels; Lay Clerk, a singing man in some cathedrals and college chapels; Singing Clerk, etc.
1549. (March) Bk. Com. Prayer, 122 b. The Clearkes and people shall aunswere. Ibid., Commun. Serv. Where there be Clerks, they shall sing one or many of the sentences above written.
1564. in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xli. 463. To every parish belongeth I. A parson, or vicar, or both, or a curate under him. II. A clerk, to read, write, sing, and say.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 94. To th’ Church, take the Priest, Clarke, and some sufficient honest witnesses.
1710. Hearne, Collect., III. 82. To go to the Clark of Ferry-Hinksey for ye Parish Register.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 409. The true Original of those we now call Parish Clerks … at first intended as Clerks-Assistant to him that had the Cure.
1727. Swift, Country Post. The deceased wife of the singing-clerk of this place.
a. 1800. Cowper, Names of little Note, 14. There goes the parson, oh! illustrious spark, And there, scarce less illustrious, goes the clerk!
1850. Lyell, 2nd Visit U.S., II. 86. There was no clerk, the Bishop read the responses and gave out the psalms, seeming to us, at first, to be performing the office of clerk.
1879. Mrs. Oliphant, Within Precincts, xviii. He … had been a chorister and had progressed into a lay clerk.
1886. Oxf. Univ. Calendar, 169. New College (Chapel): Organist, Schoolmaster, Lay-clerks, Choristers. Ibid., 189. Magdalen Coll.: Organist, Clerks, Choristers. Ibid., 219. Christ Ch.: Organist, Singing men, Choristers.
1889. Oxford Directory. All Souls College … provision for a warden, fifty fellows, two chaplains, and four bible clerks.
† 3. Clerk attaint, clerk convict: see quots. Obs.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 66. The King began … to pare a little the Priuiledge of Clergie, ordayning, That Clarkes conuict should be burned in the hand. Ibid. (a. 1626), Max. & Uses Com. Law, 39. A man found guilty of felony … and praying his clergy, and thereupon reading as a clerke … is called a clerk convict.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 62. Clerk attaint is he, which prayeth his Clergie after judgement given upon him of the felonie, and hath his Clergie allowed. Ibid. Clerke convict is hee, which prayeth his Clergie before judgement given upon him of the Felonie, and hath his Clergie to him granted.
4. A man (or woman) of book learning, one able to read and write; a scholar. (Now an historical archaism.)
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 7. Alse þe wise clerc seide on his boc.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xxvi. 11. All þe clerkis in erth may noght ymagyn it.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 285. A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also That vn to logyk hadde longe ygo.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (1858), 132. In these dayes regned in Inglond Herry the First, whech was named Herry Clerk.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. ii. (1889), 38. The thyrd syster Morgan le fey … lerned so moche that she was a grete Clerke of Nygromancye.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, 1. That noble poete and grete clerke vyrgyle.
1533. Wriothesley, Chron., I. (1875), 22. A great clearke in the Greeke and Latten tonge.
1623. Lisle, Ælfric on O. & N. T., Pref. 6. Joseph Scaliger, one of the greatest Clarkes of our age.
1702. Pope, Jan. & May, 109. As subtle clerks by many schools are made.
1796. Burke, Lett. Noble Ld., Wks. VIII. 70. He was no great clerk, but he was perfectly well versed in the interests of Europe.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, I. xi. Her father was a clerk of fame.
1882. Freeman, Reign Will. Rufus, II. vii. 455. Henry the Clerk … must rank before all other kings as the refounder of the English nation.
† b. A pupil, scholar. Obs.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 29401 (Cott. Galba). A maister of lare may bete a clerk bot noght ouer sare.
1475. Bk. Noblesse, 53. The said maister … meoved his clerkis to desport bethout the cite in the feeldis.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., III. xii. 159. After cam Plato the sage … And his clerke named Aristotle.
† 5. In early times, when writing was not an ordinary accomplishment of the laity, the offices of writer, scribe, secretary, keeper of accounts, and the transaction of all business involving writing, were discharged by Clerks (in sense 1, identical with 4).
1085. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.). Hi wæron ealle þæs cynges clerecas.
c. 1300. Beket, 2135 (2123). Edward Grim, that was his clerc … To helpe his louerd, if he miȝte, his arm pulte bifore.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 91. I sauh þer Bisschops Bolde … Bi-coome Clerkes of A-Counte, þe kyng for to seruen. Ibid. (1377), B. XIII. 247. Hadde iche a clerke þat couthe write.
c. 1400. Maundev., xix. 218. Under the Emperoures table, sitten 4 Clerkes, that writen alle, that the Emperour seythe.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxvi. (1877), 483. Than were ther chosen foure clerkes to write the a-ventures as thei fill.
a. 1555. Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 38. But our spiritualty, what do they?… some be clerks of the kitchen.
6. Hence, in current use: a. The officer who has charge of the records, correspondence, and accounts of any department, court, corporation, or society, and superintends the general conduct of its business; as Clerk of the Kitchen, Clerk to the School-board, Town-clerk, etc.
1526. Tindale, Acts xix. 35. When the toune clarcke had ceased the people.
1536. in Thynne’s Animadv., Introd. 28. William Thynne, clerc comptroller of the kinges honorable housholde.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 753. The clearke general of the armie.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 538. Clarke of the Spicery to King Henry the eight.
a. 1667. Cowley, Liberty, Wks. 1710, II. 680. His Clerk of the Kitchen, or his Cook.
1679–88. Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (1851), 111. Late clerk of the robes to King Chas. II.
1712. Lond. Gaz., No. 5016/3. All the Horses … must be shewn … before the Clerk of the Race.
b. One employed in a subordinate position in a public or private office, shop, warehouse, etc., to make written entries, keep accounts, make fair copies of documents, do the mechanical work of correspondence and similar ‘clerkly’ work.
1512. Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 6. Pream., The said Collectours and Comptrollers and theire Clerkes.
1565–78. Cooper, Thesaurus, Scriptum iacere, to be a secreitarie or clarke.
1573–80. Baret, Alvearie, A Clerke or secretarie alwayes attending, a scribe, Amanuensis.
1596. Shaks., Merch. Ven., V. i. 181. My Lord Bassanio gaue his Ring away Vnto the Iudge … and then the Boy his Clearke … begg’d mine.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., XI. (1843), 693/1. Harrisson … had been bred up in the place of a Clerk, under a Lawyer.
1702. Lond. Gaz., No. 3865/4. Writing a tolerable Clerk’s-Hand.
1771. Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 64. He proposed to take me over as his clerk.
c. 1865. J. Wylde, in Circ. Sc., I. 261/1. The telegraph clerk gradually acquires a proficiency.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 268. Some banks employ as many as six clerks.
Mod. The Warehousemen and Clerks’ School.
c. Specific applications and offices:—
Clerk of Assize: an officer who records judicial decisions given by judges on circuit. † Clerk of the Chamber: a private secretary: Clerk of the Cheque (see CHECK sb. 8): also, ‘an officer in royal dockyards who goes on board to muster the ship’s company, thereby to check false musters.’ Clinical Clerk: see CLINICAL. † Clerk of the Closet: an ecclesiastic privately attending upon a monarch, a royal confessor. Clerk of the Crown: an officer of the Chancery department, who issues writs of summons to peers in the House of Lords, and writs of election for members of the House of Commons, etc.; also an official who frames and reads indictments against public offenders. Clerk of the Essoins, Estreats, Greencloth, Hanaper (see these words). Clerk of the Market: † a royal officer attending at fairs and markets, to keep the standard of weights and measures, and punish misdemeanors therein; also an officer appointed by city or town corporations, to collect market dues, and inspect the market. † Clerk of the Nihils: (see NIHIL). † St. Nicholas’ clerk: a highwayman, thief. Clerk of the Peace: an officer who prepares indictments and keeps a record of proceedings at sessions of the peace. Clerk of the Pells, Pipe: (see these words). † Clerk of the Petty Bag: an officer in Chancery who had many minor duties, such as making out the patents of customers, gaugers, alnagers, issuing the congé d’élire for bishops, issuing writs of summons to Parliament, etc., most of which have now passed to the Clerk of the Crown. Clerk of Session: a title given to the clerks of the Court of Session. Clerk of the Signet: formerly, a clerk in attendance on the royal secretary, in charge of the privy signet for sealing private letters; also used as synonymous with Writer to the SIGNET. Clerk of Supply (Scotland): Clerk to the Commissioners of Supply or county assessors. Clerk of the Weather: an imaginary functionary humorously supposed to control the state of the weather. Clerk of the Works: an officer who superintends the erection of buildings, etc., to secure the proper quality of materials and execution of the work.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, II. VII. 317. He there obtain’d the Office of *Clerk of the Chamber.
1771. Gray, Corr. w. Nicholls (1843), 127. Philippa of Hainault appointed him clerk of her chamber.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), *Clerk of the Check … keeps a muster or register of all the men employed aboard his Majesty’s ships and vessels, and also of the artificers and others in the service of the navy at the port where he is settled.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xli. To request my commission to be forwarded to the clerk of the cheque at Plymouth.
1530. Palsgr., 206/1. *Clerke of the closet, clerc de chappelle.
1716. Bp. Kennett, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 423, IV. 298. His Majesty will be attended by three clergymen, Dr. Torriano as deputy clerk of the closet.
1681. Trial S. Colledge, 1. *Cl[erk] of the Crown. Gaoler, have you your Prisoner?
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 185. *Clarke of the market for the tyme beynge.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xvii. 114. God is the principall clark of the market, all the weights of the bag are his work.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 272. The court of the clerk of the market is incident to every fair and market in the kingdom, to punish misdemesnors therein.
1887. Oxford P. O. Directory, 175. Clerks of the Market, Rev. R. Faussett, M.A., and Rev. O. Ogle; Deputy Clerk, Mr. W. Sims.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. i. 68. If they meete not with *S. Nicholas Clarks.
1611. Cotgr., Espieur des chemins, a purse-taker … one of S. Nicholas Clerkes.
1689. Col. Rec. Penn., I. 318. That Sheriffs and *Clarks of ye peace Impose not vpon ye people.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 269. To him [the lord lieutenant] the nomination of the clerk of the peace belongs.
1845. Polson, in Encycl. Metrop., 852/1. Advocates or principal *clerks of session.
1546. Supplic. Commons, in Four Supplic. (1871), 78. The *clerke of his signet … vsed to cary his masters ryng in his mouth.
1837. Lockhart, Scott (1839), I. 252. The old clerk of the signet was very joyous.
1889. Glasgow Even. Citizen, 9 Sept., 1/7. Valuation Appeal Courts … By order, W. Alston Dykes, *Clerk of Supply.
1883. Miss Braddon, Gold. Calf, I. vi. 124. It was usually a brilliant day. The *clerk of the weather appeared favourably disposed to the warm-hearted Bessie.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 24. A *Clark of the Works must be vers’d in the prizes of Materials, and the rates of all things belonging to the building.
1851. Ord. & Regul. R. Engineers, § 17. 70. Clerk of Works in the Engineer Department.
7. attrib. and Comb., clerk-ale, an ale-drinking for the benefit of the parish clerk; also, the ale then provided; clerk-learning, book-learning, scholarship; † clerk-play, a dramatic representation of a religious subject by the clergy; clerk-register (lord register), a Scottish officer of state having custody of the archives; clerk-roll, clerk-sitter: see quots.
a. 1662. Heylin, Laud, II. (1671), 241–2 (D.). For suppressing all Revels, Church-Ales, *Clerk-Ales, which had been used upon that day.
1733. Neal, Hist. Purit., II. 248. Clerk Ales … were for the better maintenance of the Parish Clerk.
1791. J. Lackington, Mem., iii. 32 (D.). Some … frolicksome fellows being one Easter Sunday morning at the clerk’s house … drinking (as it is called) clerk’s ale.
1866. Kingsley, Herew., I. i. 61. Thou … hast had *clerk-learning in thy time.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 138. In thee wold have bein at ane vane *Clerk play two or three thowsand people.
1575. Act Gen. Assembly Ch. Scotl. (Jam.). The playing of Clerk-playis, comedies or tragedies upon the canonical parts of the Scripture, induceth and bringeth in with it a contempt and profanation of the same.
1588. Sir R. Maitland, Quenis Maryage (Jam.). Everilk man yow prayis To maik bainfyris, fairseis, and clerk-playis.
1705. Lond. Gaz., No. 4139/1. A Commission to Sir James Murray to be *Clerk-Register. Ibid. (1716), No. 5449/3. His Grace the Duke of Montrose, to be Lord Clerk-Register of North-Britain.
a. 1618. Raleigh, in Gutch, Coll. Cur., I. 56. The Constable of England used to send a bill or clerk-roll unto the Marshal.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 47. Four *clerk-sitters, who enter actions, take bails, receive verdicts after trials, &c.
