erk

[ urk ]

noun

, British Slang.

1. an aircraftsman of the lowest rank in the Royal Air Force.
2. a worthless, stupid person; jerk.

erk

/ ɜːk /

noun

1. slang.
   an aircraftman or naval rating

Word History and Origins

Origin of erk¹

First recorded in 1920–25; earlier naval slang for any noncommissioned rank; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of erk¹

C20: perhaps a corruption of AC (aircraftman)

Example Sentences

In the most detailed analysis to date, they demonstrated that the molecular pathway most responsible for the cancer-driving functions of KRASis highly dependent on a protein called ERK that has dual functions in regulating which genes are expressed and which proteins are active.

From Science Daily

Indeed, a core finding of the Science papers was that activation of the ERK protein alone is the key driver of resistance to drugs that inhibit KRAS.

From Science Daily

Taking advantage of improved methods to study cellular signaling, the researchers demonstrated that the ERK protein regulates the expression of a remarkably complex array of thousands of genes and changes the activity of thousands of proteins.

From Science Daily

“Erk is an unusual name, though. How did you come up with it?”

From Literature

“Wood Yoomove Erk, that’s his name?”

From Literature