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Etymology unknown, apparently from Scotsdirk.
First attested in 1602 as dork, in the later 17th century as durk. The spelling dirk is due to Johnson's Dictionary of 1755.
Early quotations as well as Johnson 1755 suggest that the word is of Scottish Gaelic origin, but no such Gaelic word is known. The Gaelic name for the weapon is biodag. Gaelic duirc is merely an 18th-century adoption of the English word.
1898, W.D.F Vincent, The Cutters' Practical Guide:
The Claymore is worn on the left side, the dirk on the right, and the Skean Dhu in the stocking […]
(nautical) A ceremonialdagger worn by naval or air force officers in some nations' militaries; formerly, a fighting dagger used by sailors as a boarding weapon.
In half a minute he had reached the port scuppers, and picked, out of a coil of rope, a long knife, or rather a short dirk, discolored to the hilt with blood.
1996, Frank Twiss, Social Change in the Royal Navy, 1924–1970:
In this kit was the ‘Officer of the Watch’ telescope from Dolland and Sons, presented to me by my godmother, Inman's Nautical Tables, a parallel ruler, and, of course, a dirk.
1820, Sir Walter Scott, The Abbot, archived from the original on 4 June 2014, Chapter the Fourth:
Roland Graeme has dirked Adam Woodstock — that is all.” ¶ “Good Heaven!” said the Lady, turning pale as ashes, “is the man slain?”
1825, James Kirke Paulding, John Bull in America; or, the New Munchausen, page 127:
For these offenses, I was informed privately, by a worthy English settler, who had been like me seduced by Mr. Birkbeck, they had hired a man to dirk me for ten dollars, the usual price of blood in this country, as Mr. Chichester says.
Etymology 2
Verb
dirk (third-person singular simple presentdirks, present participledirking, simple past and past participledirked)