ilk

¹

[ ilk ]

noun

1. family, class, or kind:

   he and all his ilk.

adjective

1. same.

ilk

²

[ ilk ]

pronoun

1. each.

adjective

1. each; every.

ilk

¹

/ ɪlk; ˈɪlkə /

determiner

1. each; every

ilk

²

/ ɪlk /

noun

1. a type; class; sort (esp in the phrase of that, his, her, etc, ilk )

   people of that ilk should not be allowed here

2. of that ilk
   of the place of the same name: used to indicate that the person named is proprietor or laird of the place named

   Moncrieff of that ilk

Usage

Although the use of ilk in the sense of sense 1 is sometimes condemned as being the result of a misunderstanding of the original Scottish expression of that ilk , it is nevertheless well established and generally acceptable

Word History and Origins

Origin of ilk¹

before 900; Middle English ilke, Old English ilca (pronoun) the same, equivalent to demonstrative i (cognate with Gothic is he, Latin is that) + a reduced form of līc like ¹; which, such

Origin of ilk²

before 900; Middle English ilk, north variant of ilch, Old English ylc (pronoun) each

Word History and Origins

Origin of ilk¹

Old English ǣlc each (+ a ¹)

Origin of ilk²

Old English ilca the same family, same kind; related to Gothic is he, Latin is, Old English gelīc like

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. of that ilk,
   1. (in Scotland) of the same family name or place:

      Ross of that ilk, i.e., Ross of Ross.

   2. of the same class or kind.

Example Sentences

Trump and his ilk suddenly went from being terrifying, offensive, and heartless to lame, ridiculous, weirdo whiners.

From Salon

Another man of Midwestern ilk, Walz attacked his vice presidential opponent for Vance’s characterization of Middle America in his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Comments of a similar ilk have flooded X/Twitter in recent days as well.

From Salon

Trump and his ilk are nothing but bottom-feeding swamp and sewer rats.

From Salon

“We were faced with 13 separate lawsuits run by Stephen Miller and his ilk,” Mr. Vilsack said.

From New York Times