varken

See also: värken

Dutch

Sus scrofa domesticus

Alternative forms

• verken (dialectal)

Etymology

From Middle Dutch varken, verken, from Old Dutch farkīn, ferkīn, an old diminutive, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *farhaz (Proto-West Germanic *farh) + Proto-Germanic *-ukaz (Proto-Germanic *-ukīn, with another diminutive suffix attached). Compare Central Franconian Ferke, Low German Farken.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvɑrkə(n)/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: var‧ken
• Rhymes: -ɑrkən

Noun

varken n (plural varkens, diminutive varkentje n, feminine zeug, masculine beer)

1. (zoology) pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)
2. (figuratively, derogatory, offensive) a swine, a dirty, gross or foul person
3. (archaic, possibly offensive) a student who does not belong to a student society; one who is neither a frat boy nor a soror

   Synonym: knor

4. (dialectal) a brush, especially one used along with a dustpan for sweeping floors or hearths

   Synonyms: borstel, schuier

Synonyms

• zwijn

Derived terms

• aardvarken
• een varkentje wassen
• minivarken
• spaarvarken
• varkensachtig
• varkensblaas
• varkensborstel
• varkensbrood
• varkensdrijver
• varkensfokker
• varkensgras
• varkenshoeder
• varkenshouder
• varkensoogjes
• varkensslager
• varkensstal
• varkensvlees
• varkensvoer

 

Descendants

• Afrikaans: vark
• Jersey Dutch: vārk
• Negerhollands: varki, fergi, farki, ferkikin, verken
• Skepi Creole Dutch: fark

See also

• barg, beer, big, geit, zeug

Swedish

Alternative forms

• hvarken (obsolete since 1906)

Etymology

From Old Norse hvárgi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvarkˌɛn/

Conjunction

varken

1. neither

   varken X eller Y

   neither X nor Y

Further reading

• varken in Svensk ordbok.

Anagrams

• kraven, verkan, vraken