English Explanatory Dictionary

welk

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. Of a plant: to wither, wilt, decay.
  2. To diminish; to lose brightness, to wane.
  3. to soak, steep.
  4. to thrash, beat severely.
  5. To contract; to shorten.
  6. To form into wrinkles or ridges.
noun
  1. Alternative form of whelk.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/wɛlk/

Word forms

welk welks welking welked

Etymology

From Middle English welken, probably from a continental Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch welken (Dutch welken) and Middle Low German welken. Cognate with German welken. Ultimately, from Proto-West Germanic *wilkijan (“to become soft”), from Proto-Germanic *welkaz (“soft, withered”), according to Kluge, related to *wulkną (“cloud”). Compare also Old English wealwian (“to fade, wither”), Old English wlacu (“tepid, lukewarm”).

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