erk

An expression of trepidation; eek.

Interjection

  1. An expression of trepidation; eek.
  2. An expression of revulsion or disgust; yuck.
    • ‘Gawd, erk!’ She recoiled and turned away. - 1959, D'Arcy Niland, The Big Smoke, page 43:
    • ‘Erk! What’s that big ugly growth you’ve got?’ - 1995, Paul Vautin, Turn It Up!, page 29:

Derived

erky

Noun

  1. A member of the groundcrew in the RAF.
    • But I wasn’t accepted for flying duty—eyesight failed me. Neither was Frank, which, I’m ashamed to say, I found a relief. We were both channelled as aircrafthands, known to everyone as erks. - 2004, Andrea Levy, chapter...

Origin

Claimed to be a respelling of the abbreviation airc for aircraftsman; or else from irk.

Forms

erks