Middle English Dictionary Entry
cark n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cark n. Also kark. |
| Etymology | AF; cp. CF charge. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Charge, responsibility; responsibility for the truth of a story; (b) anxiety, worry; (c) trouble, misfortune; need; (d) ?poor man, miserable fellow.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3942 : Þis ich seuen, saunfail, Þe cark hadde of þe batayl.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20790 : He wil noght tak þe cark [Frf: charge] on him, Quar þat it be sua soght or nai.
b
- c1440 Lyarde (Thrn)282 : Whene maydens ere maryede, it es thaire maste karke, Lesse thay be maryed to menne that hase bene in the parke.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)326 : Þe iiije is lijflode and endower in such maner hauyng and occupiyng, bi which þer muste nedis greet solicitude and worldly cark.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)488 : A man schal haue to myche solicitude and to myche cark aboute hem [outward werkis].
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)307 : Thei schulen haue lasse thouȝt and lasse kark..lest her godis be lost and spilled.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)377 : This said cark and caring and attendaunce is miche more in a man, for that that he hath a wijf and children.
c
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.135 : To temples in Acres he quath fiue þousand marke, & fiue thousand to þe hospitale, for þei were in karke.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)4 : Clannesse, who so kyndly cowþe comende..Fayre formez myȝt he fynde..And in þe contrare, kark and combraunce huge.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)265 : He knew vche a cace & kark þat hym lymped.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)760 : Now i see þat al þe cark schall fallen on myn heed.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)158/2831 : Lene no man here-of, for no karke, þou he schuld hange be þe þrote.
d
- c1440 Chaucer CT.Fri.(Lin-C 110)D.1568 : Cark [Heng: The Carl spak o thyng].
2.
A unit of weight ranging between three and four hundredweight.
Associated quotations
- [ 1419 Liber Albus Lond.in RS 12.1223 : Et fait assavoir, qe toutz les avers, des queux serra prys custume par karke, doit le karke poysera iiii centaines; horsprys graine, le quele karke poysera iii centaines; et peivere, le quel karke poysera iii centaines et demi. ]
- (1458) GRed Bk.Bristol2.59 : For euery Carke of Bever ther put to sale..ij d.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?1482 Rev.Monk Eynsham1904,1906 : The comyn euyl and peynys that thes thre ware in, was for the neglygens of soulys the whiche they had cure of, and for the gret carke that they had of her riches and despexion of pore pepul, for flatering of princys and inmoderate carke of her kynnefolke.
- ?1482 Rev.Monk Eynsham2286 : They schulde haue cum to the folowing of Crystes pouerte, and to the karke and dilygente kepyng of her cure.
Note: Glossary: "carke, karke n. 'care, heed, concern'."
Note: Additional quotes.