Forms: α. 1 færcian, fercian, 4 ferkien, 4–6 ferke, (5 fark), 7– ferk. β. 6–7 firke, (7 firck), 9 dial. virk, 6– firk. [OE. fercian, færcian, prob. f. fær (see FARE sb.1).
In OE. known only in one example in the sense ‘to bring, conduct’; but the vb. fercian to support, feed, may perh. be the same word, as this sense may have developed from that of supplying with provisions for a journey (cf. FARE sb.1 8.)
† 1. trans. To bring, carry, conduct; to help forward on one’s way. Obs.
O. E. Chron., an. 1009. Þet folc þa þe on ðam scipe wæron færcodon [v.r. fercodon] ða scipo eft to Lundene.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3629.
| Þei were bliþe of þat bode · & bisiliche fondede | |
| fast to ferke him forþward · as þei faire miȝt. |
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 295.
| How she [Fortune] was to this lord diverse, | |
| The which upon the see she ferketh. |
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 614.
| The flese for to fecche, and ferke it away. | |
| Ibid., 3839. | |
| So bolnet was his body, þat burthen hade ynoghe | |
| The fete of þat freke to ferke hym aboute. | |
| Ibid., 6032. | |
| And all necessaries for þe night, þat þai naite shuld, | |
| ffechit fro the flete, & ferkit to bonke. |
2. † a. To urge, press hard; to drive, drive away. Obs.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 66. That by force of hur fight · ðei firked hym ðennes. Ibid., 85. Þei … Felled þe falsse folke · ferked hem hard.
1606. Chapman, Gentleman Usher, I. i.
| Vin. The red fac’d Sunne hath firkt the flundering shades, | |
| And cast bright ammell on Auroraes brow. |
1640. Brome, Antipodes, III. ii.
| This shall serve | |
| To firke your Adversary from Court to Court. |
1674. N. Fairfax, A Treatise of the Bulk and Selvedge of the World, 74. There is somewhat in it, that firks us more at such a nick of time to wake and stir.
b. With advbs.: To drive, force, or move sharply and suddenly off, out, up; † to cut off (some one’s head). Also dial. to drive or ‘ferret’ out (vermin), to clear out (a burrow, etc.). To firk up (fig.): to stir up, rouse. † To firk to death, (out) of life: to put to death.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 144.
| With a course of vnkyndnes he caste in his thoghte, | |
| The freike vpon faire wise ferke out of lyue. | |
| Ibid., 5260. | |
| With a fouchon felle to ferke of his hede. | |
| Ibid., 12191. | |
| Þe fell kyng of Frigie I ferkid of lyue. | |
| Ibid., 12362. | |
| With hor fos to be felly ferkit to dethe. |
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., II. i.
| Mam. That’s his fire-drake, | |
| His lungs, his Zephyrus, he that puffes his coales, | |
| Till he firke nature vp, in her owne center. |
1640. Brome, Antipodes, II. ii.
| As Tumblers doe; when betwixt every feat | |
| They gather wind, by firking up their breeches. |
1644. Digby, Two Treatises, I. xxxvi. 308. He [the badger] will pisse vpon his tayle, and by firking that vp and downe, will endeauour (you may beleeue) to make their eyes smarte, and so retarde their pursuite, that he may escape from them.
1817–8. Cobbett, Resid. U. S. (1822), 249. These vermin our friend firks out (as the Hampshire people call it); and they hate him as rats hate a terrier.
1823. New Monthly Mag., VIII. 496. I ’ll set about a lusty courtship to her at once, and if I do not ferk you out of all likelihood of ringing the beauty, why mandamus me!
1878. P. Robinson, Indian Garden, 106. I have also spent Christmas Day in India, but not all the marigolds of Cathay will firk up Christmas spirits, or make me throw crumbs to a blue jay.
1891. Sheffield Gloss., Suppl., Ferk, to clear out…. ‘Come, lass, let’s ferk all them nooks out!’
† c. To contrive to get or ‘raise’ (a living); to get (money) from a person. Also, to cheat, rob (any one). To firk up: to hatch or vamp up (a business). Obs.
1604. Dekker, Honest Wh., in Dodsley, Old Plays (1780), III. 344.
| As out of wormwood bees suck honey; | |
| As from poor clients lawyers firk money. |
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fl., Little Fr. Lawyer, III. ii.
| Sec. Client. A fine lawyer, sir, | |
| And would have firk’d you up a business, | |
| And out of this court into that. |
1622. Fletcher, Beggars’ Bush, III. i.
| Were ever fools so ferk’d? | |
| Ibid. (1624), Rule a Wife, III. iv. | |
| These five Years she has firkt | |
| A pretty Living. |
1709. Brit. Apollo, II. No. 65, 3/2.
| The manner how thence setting forth, Sir, | |
| She Firkt a Living upon Earth, Sir. |
† 3. refl. and intr. To urge oneself forward; to move quickly, hasten. † To firk (oneself) up: to start up, set oneself in motion. To firk out with (a sword): to draw hastily. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 897. Fast þe freke ferkeȝ vp ful ferd at his hert.
c. 1340. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, 173. Þe fole þat he ferkkes on, fyn of þat ilke, sertayn. Ibid., 2013. Þat oþer ferkeȝ hym vp, & fecheȝ hym his wedeȝ.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 300. Ne foure-fotede best · [we] ferke to kille.
c. 1400. Melayne, 484.
| He ferkes owte with a fawchon | |
| And hittis þe Sawdane one þe crownn. |
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6585. The freke þen in fuerse hast ferkid on horse.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 766. He … Farkis to ser Philip · & fangis his leue. Ibid., 926. Quen Ph[ilip] … Ferkis furth with a fewe folk.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Wks. (Grosart), V. 244. The bonnie Northren cobbles of his countrey, with their Indian canaos or boats like great beefe trayes or kneading troughts, firking as flight swift thorow the glassy fieldes of Thetis, as if it were the land of yce.
† b. intr. To move about briskly; to dance, jig; to flaunt or frisk about; to be lively, frisky, or ‘jiggish.’ Also to firk it. Obs.
1596. Nashe, Have with you, Ep. Ded., Wks. (Grosart), III. 17. Neuer surcease flaunting and firking it in fustian.
1606. Sir G. Goosecappe, II. i., in Bullen, O. Pl., III. 32. Your dauncers legges bow for-sooth, and Caper, and jerke and Firke, and dandle the body above them, as it were their great childe.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Woman’s Prize, II. vi.
| Jaques. They have got a stick of Fiddles and they firke it | |
| In wondrous waies. |
c. 1630. B. Jonson, Expost. Inigo Jones.
| How wou’d he firk, like Adam Overdo, | |
| Up and about; dive into cellars too, | |
| Disguised, and thence drag forth Enormity, | |
| Discover Vice, commit Absurdity. |
1672. Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Rehearsal (Arb.), 115.
| Like Maggots in Filberds, we’l snug in our shell, | |
| We’l frisk in our shell, | |
| We’l firk in our shell, | |
| And farewel. |
a. 1679. Earl Orrery, Guzman, IV. (end). Guzm. Well since I am restrain’d a while from doing, I’ll ferk it with thinking.
4. trans. To beat, whip, lash, trounce, drub. Obs. exc. arch.
1567. Edwards, Damon & Pithias, in Hazl., Dodsley, IV. 164. Caris. O, I had firk’d him trimly, thou villain, if thou hadst given me my sword.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. iv. 29. Boy. He sayes his Name is M. Fer. Pist. M. Fer: Ile fer him, and firke him, and ferret him.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Women Pleas’d, III. iv.
| Do you mark her subtilty? but I have paid her; | |
| I have so ferk’d her face! here’s the blood, gentlemen. |
1638. Ford, Lady’s Trial, II. ii.
| He has firk’d | |
| And mumbled the rogue Turks. |
1708. Brit. Apollo, No. 9, 3/1.
| Who finding Crabtree Cudgel not prevail, | |
| Bound up a tingling Rod, and firk’d his Tail. |
1722. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. iv. 237. At this the judge said, ‘Take him away, prevaricator! I’ll ferk him.’
1736. Ainsworth, Lat. Dict., I. To firk, flagello.
1863. Sala, Capt. Dangerous, I. iv. 97. I would sooner see a poor rogue soundly firked at the post, and then comforted with a bellyful of bread and cheese and beer by the constable, and so passed on to his belongings, than that he should be clapped up in a workhouse, to pick oakum and suck his paws like a bear, while Master Overseer gets tun-stomached over shoulder of veal and burnt brandy at vestry-dinners.
† b. To play (a fiddle). Obs.
1668. Davenant, Man’s the Master, III. ii. Sanch. Firk your fiddles!
Hence Firking vbl. sb. and ppl. a. Also Firker, one who firks. Firkery (see quot. 1611).
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., Wks. (Grosart), V. 70. Why should I goe gadding fisgigging after firking flantado Amphibologies?
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., III. Wks. 1856, I. 34.
| O, if that candle-light were made a Poet, | |
| He would proove a rare firking Satyrist, | |
| And drawe the core forth of impostum’d sin. |
1611. Cotgr., Bichecoterie … firkerie, an odde pranke, or ierke, in whoorisme.
1611. Barrey, Ram Alley, IV. i. F iv.
| She shall haue bayle…. | |
| And a firking writte | |
| Of false imprisonment. |
a. 1625. Fletcher, Mad Lover, V. iv.
| Dost thou want money too? No virtue living? | |
| No firking out at fingers’ ends? |
1632. Rowley, Woman never Vext, IV. i. 51. These briske factors are notable firkers.
1636. Davenant, Witts (1673), 197. Eld. Pall. Sir, these are the firkers of the City Fiddles.
1654. Gayton, Pleasant Notes upon Don Quixot, III. i. 68. Never trust a modest-lookt Stallion, your soberest Jades are firkers in Corners, and your horse that sayes least is (like the silent Sow) for Draft-Mares.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. II. 448.
| Then strip thee of thy carnal jerkin, | |
| And give thy outward-fellow a ferking. |
a. 1704. T. Brown, Sat. French King, Wks. 1730, I. 59.
| Then to abandon poor Italian Molly, | |
| That I had the firking of thy bumb with holly. |
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), IV. 263.
| In Paul’s Church-yard in London, | |
| There dwells a noble Firker; | |
| Take heed you that pass, | |
| Lest you taste of his Lash, | |
| For I have found him a Jirker. |
