ChatterBank0 min ago
Where Did This Term Come From?
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I have been hearing a word that I did not know existed but seems to be in common parlance on the weather forecast. "merk" "merky".
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Spelling first - 'murky' not merky
Rarely used before the 17th century, this adjective came about by adding a "y" to the word murk. Murk itself evolved from myrkr, a Norse word for "darkness.” Things that are murky are unclear; that goes for murky, sediment-filled lakes, shady business deals, and arguments that don't seem to make any sense - and then the weather-folk took it up, and possibly a Northern term. I can remember folk using it, meteorologically, when I was growing up.
Rarely used before the 17th century, this adjective came about by adding a "y" to the word murk. Murk itself evolved from myrkr, a Norse word for "darkness.” Things that are murky are unclear; that goes for murky, sediment-filled lakes, shady business deals, and arguments that don't seem to make any sense - and then the weather-folk took it up, and possibly a Northern term. I can remember folk using it, meteorologically, when I was growing up.
I assume that you mean 'murky', which I've always thought of as being part of standard English. (e.g. "He has a somewhat murky past" or "It's looking very murky outside today").
'Murk', as a noun meaning darkness or gloom, was first recorded in English usage in 1313, in the form of the Old English 'myrce'. It's now largely confined to use in Scotland or in poetry. When meaning thick mist or fog, it was first recorded in 1400.
The adjective, 'murky', is in more general use, with the following definitions offered by the OED:
1. Of a place: dark; gloomy. (First recorded in 1590 but citing a 1340 reference).
2a. Of air, the atmosphere, etc.: obscured by mist or vapour; foggy, cloudy. Of mist, clouds, etc., or darkness itself: dense, thick, intense, impenetrable. (First recorded in 1667).
2b. Of water, etc.: cloudy due to suspended matter; dirty. (1840).
2c. Of a photograph, film, or other visual image: indistinct, unclear, blurred. Of recorded sound: poorly reproduced. (1874).
3. Dirty, grimy. (1755).
4. Dark in colour. (1759).
5. Shady, suspect; morally questionable, sinister. (1779).
6. Obscure, confused, imprecisely defined. (1783).
7. Of a look, a person's demeanour, etc.: sullen, cheerless, gloomy. (1830).
'Murk', as a noun meaning darkness or gloom, was first recorded in English usage in 1313, in the form of the Old English 'myrce'. It's now largely confined to use in Scotland or in poetry. When meaning thick mist or fog, it was first recorded in 1400.
The adjective, 'murky', is in more general use, with the following definitions offered by the OED:
1. Of a place: dark; gloomy. (First recorded in 1590 but citing a 1340 reference).
2a. Of air, the atmosphere, etc.: obscured by mist or vapour; foggy, cloudy. Of mist, clouds, etc., or darkness itself: dense, thick, intense, impenetrable. (First recorded in 1667).
2b. Of water, etc.: cloudy due to suspended matter; dirty. (1840).
2c. Of a photograph, film, or other visual image: indistinct, unclear, blurred. Of recorded sound: poorly reproduced. (1874).
3. Dirty, grimy. (1755).
4. Dark in colour. (1759).
5. Shady, suspect; morally questionable, sinister. (1779).
6. Obscure, confused, imprecisely defined. (1783).
7. Of a look, a person's demeanour, etc.: sullen, cheerless, gloomy. (1830).
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