awk Meaning, Definition & Usage

Awk adjective

Etymology

OE. auk, awk (properly) turned away; (hence) contrary, wrong, from Icel. öfigr, öfugr, afigr, turning the wrong way, fr. af off, away; cf. OHG. abuh, Skr. apac turned away, fr. apa off, away + a root ak, ak, to bend, from which come also E. angle, anchor.

Definitions

1. Odd; out of order; perverse. Obs.
2. Wrong, or not commonly used; clumsy; sinister; as, the awk end of a rod (the but end). Obs. Golding.
3. Clumsy in performance or manners; unhandy; not dexterous; awkward. Obs. or Prov. Eng.

Awk adverb

Definitions

1. Perversely; in the wrong way. L'Estrange.