In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
CHIRK
chirk
(verb) make a shrill creaking, squeaking, or noise, as of a door, mouse, or bird
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
chirk (third-person singular simple present chirks, present participle chirking, simple past and past participle chirked)
(intransitive, especially as "chirk up") To become happier.
(transitive, especially as "chirk up") To make happier.
To make the sound of a bird; to chirp.
Adjective
chirk (comparative chirker or more chirk, superlative chirkest or most chirk)
(colloquial, US, chiefly, New England) lively; cheerful; in good spirits
Usage notes
• The comparative and superlative forms of chirky — chirkier and chirkiest — are sometimes used suppletively as comparative and superlative forms of chirk.
Proper noun
Chirk
A small town in the Wrexham, Wales (OS grid ref SJ2937).
Source: Wiktionary
Chirk, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Chirp, also Creak.]
1. To shriek; to gnash; to utter harsh or shrill cries. [Obs.] All full of chirkyng was that sorry place. Cheucer.
2. To chirp like a bird. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Chirk, v. t.
Definition: To cheer; to enliven; as, to chirk one up. [Colloq. New Eng. ]
Chirk, a. Etym: [From Chirk, v. i.]
Definition: Lively; cheerful; in good spirits. [Colloq. New Eng.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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