v. Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 5 querkyn, qwerken, -yn, 6 quarken, 7 quirk-, whirken, 8 dial. quacken, 9 dial. wirken, quocken, 5–6 (8–9 dial.) querken. [= OFris. querka (mod. querke, quirke), ON. kvirkja, kyrkja (Da. kværke, kyrke), f. OFris. querk, ON. kverk (MSw. qvärk), OHG. querca throat.] trans. To choke, suffocate, stifle. Hence Querkening vbl. sb.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 420/2. Querkenyd, suffocatus. Querkenynge, suffocacio. Querkyn, idem quod quellyn.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, 249. The bytternesse of sorowe querkynde & stopped … the virgins harte.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, H ij. I haue a throte bolle almoste strangled, snarled, or quarkennyd with extreme hunger.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., Maner exam. lazares, Q iv. Yf there apere any straytnes of breth as yf wolde querken [sic].
1607. Walkington, Opt. Glass, 64. It will … send vp such an ascending fome that it will bee ready to quirken and stifle vs.
1611. Cotgr., Noyer, to drowne, to whirken, or stifle with water, &c. Ibid., Suffocation, a suffocation,… whirkening.
1783. Lemon, Eng. Etym., Querkened, sometimes written, and pronounced quackned.
1828. Craven Gloss., Querkened, suffocated.
1848. A. B. Evans, Leicestersh. Words, s.v., The wind was so high … that I was welly quockened.
1880. in Cheshire Gloss. (1886), Wirken.
