shirk Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb avoid (one's assigned duties)
    goldbrick; shrink from; fiddle.
    • The derelict soldier shirked his duties
  2. verb avoid dealing with
    • She shirks her duties

WordNet

Shirk transitive verb
Etymology
Probably the same word as shark. See Shark, v. t.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Shirked ; present participle & verbal noun Shirking
Definitions
  1. To procure by petty fraud and trickery; to obtain by mean solicitation.
    You that never heard the call of any vocation, . . . that shirk living from others, but time from Yourselves. Bp. Rainbow.
  2. To avoid; to escape; to neglect; -- implying unfaithfulness or fraud; as, to shirk duty.
    The usual makeshift by which they try to shirk difficulties. Hare.
Shirk intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To live by shifts and fraud; to shark.
  2. To evade an obligation; to avoid the performance of duty, as by running away.
    One of the cities shirked from the league. Byron.
Shirk noun
Definitions
  1. One who lives by shifts and tricks; one who avoids the performance of duty or labor.

Webster 1913