▪ I. lurk, n.1
(lɜːk)
[f. lurk v.]
1. The action of prowling about. In phrase on the lurk. Cf. lurch n.2 2.
| 1829 Life & Death J. Wilson (Farmer), Like Reynard sneaking on the lurk. |
2. slang. a. A method of fraud.
| c 1842 Exposure of Impositions practised by Vagrants 5 Persons who go on this lurk, generally represent themselves as Captains or Masters of merchant ships which have been wrecked, and they have, of course, lost all their property. 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 363 The ‘dead lurk’..is the expressive slang phrase for the act of entering dwelling-houses during divine service. Ibid. (1861) II. 51 Thus initiated, Chelsea George could ‘go upon any lurk’. 1864 Slang Dict., Lurk, a sham, swindle, or representation of feigned distress. 1875 Brine in Ribton-Turner Vagrants & Vagrancy (1887) 642 The ‘bereavement lurk’ is a lucrative one—(i.e.) the pretended loss of a wife [etc.]. |
b. Chiefly Austral. and N.Z. slang. A scheme, ‘dodge’, plan of action, ruse (not necessarily implying fraud). (See also quot. 1941.)
| 1916 C. J. Dennis Songs Sentimental Bloke 125 Lurk, a plan of action. 1918 [see jerry v.]. c 1926 [see freeze n.1 1 (i)]. 1938 Observer 13 Nov. 11/3 Dart, a scheme or racket; lurk, ditto. 1941 Baker Dict. Austral. Slang 45 Lurk, a ‘dodge’, scheme, racket. 2. A hanger-on, an eavesdropper or sneak. 1953 A. Upfield Murder must Wait xvii. 149 Thanks a lot for the antidote... It is one hell of a good lurk. 1961 N.Z. Listener 17 Mar. 3/1 The Navy..is just a good lurk for those who want to delve deep into the public purse. Ibid. 15 Sept. 29/2, I suspect Barry Crump found he was on a good advertising lurk when he was interviewed for Book Shop. 1966 B. Cooper Drown him Deep xx. 165 She was a very rich girl indeed, and Hilary, with considerable influence over her, might well be on to a very good ‘lurk’. 1967 C. Drummond Death at Furlong Post xv. 182 If the hounds were out, the lurk was to get ahead of them and go to earth. |
c. Austral. and N.Z. slang. A job.
| 1916 C. J. Dennis Songs Sentimental Bloke 20, I found 'er lurk Wus pastin' labels in a pickle joint. Ibid. 125 Lurk, a regular occupation. 1958 R. Stow To Islands 126 ‘What's your lurk, mate?’ ‘Me? Stockman on a mission.’ 1965 Telegraph (Brisbane) 2 June, O'Grady's current lurk is holidaying as an unpaid deck hand on the South Molle cruise ship Crest while he absorbs sunlight and material for a new book. |
3. dial. A loafer. (E.D.D.) Cf. lurk v. 1 b.
4. slang. A hiding-place; a ‘hang-out’.
| 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands viii. 97, I come out frim me lurk, 'n' went over ther ground. 1924 Chambers's Jrnl. 20 Sept. 683/2 Why did the old beggar come to this secret lurk in the East End and disguise himself? 1972 N.Z. News 26 Jan. 4/1 The first bar I saw was the Cockney's Pride—a completely new lurk for me. 1974 J. Gardner Return of Moriarty 32, I met her in a servant's lurk. |
▪ II. † lurk, n.2 Obs.
Some plant; ? = lurkydish.
| 1530 Palsgr. 241/2 Lurke an herbe. |
▪ III. lurk, v. Now literary.
(lɜːk)
Forms: 4 lurkke, lork(e, 4–7 lurke, 6 lourke, 6–7 lurck, 7 lurcke.
[app. f. lūr- lour v. with frequentative suffix as in tal-k. Cf. LG. lurken to shuffle along, Norw. lurka to sneak away, Sw. dial. lurka to be slow in one's work (Sw. lurk bumpkin).]
1. a. intr. To hide oneself; to lie in ambush; to remain furtively or unobserved about one spot. (Now only with indication of place.) Also, † to live in concealment or retirement.
| c 1300 Havelok 68 Hwan he felede hise foos, He made hem lurken, and crepen in wros. ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 465 There lurked and there coured she, Fer pover thing, wher-so it be, Is shamfast, and despysed ay. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xliii. (Cecile) 89 Valaryane..fand þe bischope sanct urbane lurkand ymong pure men mekly. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 355 And thus lurkende upon his stelthe In his await so longe he lai [etc.]. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1167 Silen to the Citie softly and faire; Lurkyt vnder lefe-sals loget with vines. c 1470 Golagros & Gaw. 1080 Sal neuer freik on fold, fremmyt nor freynde, Gar me lurk for ane luke, lawit nor lerd. 1547 Boorde Introd. Knowl. xxiv. (1870) 181 To lyue in rest and peace in my cytye I do lourke. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 20 Fisches lurking amang the stanes. 1605 Camden Rem., Rythmes 25 When Philip de Valoys the French King lurked in Cambray. 1650 Fuller Pisgah iv. i. 9 They shew also in this city the house or rather hole wherein Ananias..dwelt or lurked, being a Cellar under ground. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 33 ¶7 Could you then steal out of Town, and lurk like a Robber about my House. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. (1806) V. lxix. 185 Shaftesbury..had left his house and secretly lurked in the city. 1772–84 Cook Voy. (1790) VI. 1962 The natives were seen lurking about the beach. 1826 Cobbett Rur. Rides (1885) II. 193 When quarters are good, you are apt to lurk in them; but really it was so wet, that we could not get away. 1863 M. E. Braddon Eleanor's Vict. III. ii. 22 There was a man lurking somewhere under the shadow of the evergreens. 1887 Bowen Virg. Eclog. iii. 93 Run, for a cold snake lurks in the grasses yonder unseen! |
† b. To shirk work; to idle. Obs.
| 1551 Crowley Pleas. & Pain 287 You toke from them theyr heritage Leaueyng them nought wheron to worcke: Which lacke dyd make them learne to lurke. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 175 When Dinner is ended, set seruants to wurke, and follow such fellowes as loueth to lurke. a 1792 Song, Poor Thresher ii. in Johnson's Museum IV. 384 He never was known for to idle or lurk. |
2. trans. and fig. Of things: To escape observation, to be concealed or latent.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. 277 (305) O soule lurkinge in þis wo, vnneste, Fle forth out of myn herte and lat it breste. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 18 Then ought you to denie that any vnfaithfulnes, fraude, or deceitfulnesse lieth lurking in our friendship. 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. ii. iii. Wks. 1856 I. 98 Griefe..lurkes in secret angles of the heart. 1661 Boyle Style of Script. (1671) 206 Laziness and pride..both which lurk under the pretext of multiplicity of important avocations. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. iii. 58 Grapes in clusters lurk, Beneath the Carving of the curious Work. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 399 ¶3 Those Vices that lurk in the secret Corners of the Soul. 1795 Burns Song, ‘Their groves o' sweet myrtles’, Where the blue-bell and gowan lurk lowly unseen. 1812 Byron Ch. Har. ii. lxxxii, But midst the throng in merry masquerade, Lurk there no hearts that throb with secret pain? 1883 R. W. Dixon Mano iii. iii. 121 A dismal deed..The fame of which lurks in obscurity. |
3. To move about in a secret and furtive manner; to ‘steal’ along, away, out. Now rare.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 25 Þat litel child listely lorked out of his caue. Ibid. 2213 Lorkinde þurth londes bi niȝt so lumbardie þei passed. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. iii. 226 Lyghtliche lyere lep a-way þennes, Lorkynge þorw lanes. c 1400 Destr. Troy 12666 Þe buernes..dang hym to deth in þe derk hole..& lurkit to þaire tentis. Ibid. 13106. 1572 Satir. Poems Reform. xxxiii. 297 First, thair come in, lurkand vpon ȝour gait, Pryde and Inuy. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair lxi, That second-floor arch in a London house,..commanding the main thoroughfare by which..cook lurks down before daylight to scour her pots and pans in the kitchen;..up which John lurks to bed. 1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles xiv. 142 That young nobleman has been seen lurking about here very much of late. |
† 4. To peer furtively or slyly. Obs.
| c 1440 York Myst. xxix. 107 He lokis lurkand like an nape. 1513 Douglas æneis xiii. Prol. 78 Me thocht I lurkit vp vnder my hude To spy this auld. |
5. [Perh. connected with lurch v.2] In pa. pple.: beaten, lost (in a game of chance) (see also quot. 1929). slang.
| 1917 M. T. Hainsselin Grand Fleet Days xx. 172 ‘What-Ho!’..said the Admiral, ‘not a bad idea at all! Let's have a garden{ddd}’ ‘―’ said the Watch-keepers, in the sheltered seclusion of the wardroom, knowing full well that they would be lurked for the digging. 1929 F. C. Bowen Sea Slang 87 Lurked, to be, to be ordered to do some unpleasant job without a chance of avoiding it. 1938 C. Morgan Flashing Stream iii. 222 Four straight aces. Good enough? You're lurked, Sandford. 1946 J. Irving Royal Navalese 111 The man who ‘cuts’ for drinks and loses is ‘lurked for the round’. |
▸ intr. Computing slang. To read communications to an electronic network without actively contributing or making one's presence known. Cf. earlier lurker n.1
| 1983 N.Y. Times 2 Dec. A18/5 Some computer owners..observe others' conversations... Sometimes they even type ‘lurking’ so you know they're there. 1991 K. Hafner & J. Markoff Cyberpunk i. 44 Others called just to browse or ‘lurk’, reading posted comments without making their presence known. 1995 .net Feb. 58/1 The few US newsgroups I'd lurked on in the past had always been unbearably tedious. 1999 Dogs Today Oct. 103 (advt.) Want to discuss something featured in the mag? Send an email...Even if you're too shy to join in—just lurking can be great fun. |
▪ IV. lurk
north. dial. variant of lirk.