FOLK

folk, folks, common people

(noun) people in general (often used in the plural); “they’re just country folk”; “folks around here drink moonshine”; “the common people determine the group character and preserve its customs from one generation to the next”

family, family line, folk, kinfolk, kinsfolk, sept, phratry

(noun) people descended from a common ancestor; “his family has lived in Massachusetts since the Mayflower”

tribe, folk

(noun) a social division of (usually preliterate) people

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

folk (not comparable)

Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of a land, their culture, tradition, or history.

Of or pertaining to common people as opposed to ruling classes or elites.

(architecture) Of or related to local building materials and styles.

Believed or transmitted by the common people; not academically correct or rigorous.

Noun

folk (plural folk or folks)

(archaic) A grouping of smaller peoples or tribes as a nation.

• J. R. Green

The inhabitants of a region, especially the native inhabitants.

(plural only, plural: folks) One’s relatives, especially one’s parents.

(music) Folk music.

(plural only) People in general.

(plural only) A particular group of people.

Proper noun

Folk (plural Folks)

A surname.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Folk is the 5778th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 5996 individuals. Folk is most common among White (82.71%) and Black/African American (12.32%) individuals.

Source: Wiktionary


Folk, Folks, n. collect. & pl. Etym: [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS. & OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd, and perh. to E. follow.]

1. (Eng. Hist.)

Definition: In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe. [Obs.] The organization of each folk, as such, sprang mainly from war. J. R. Green.

2. People in general, or a separate class of people; -- generally used in the plural form, and often with a qualifying adjective; as, the old folks; poor folks. [Colloq.] In winter's tedious nights, sit by the fire With good old folks, and let them tell thee tales. Shak.

3. The persons of one's own family; as, our folks are all well. [Colloq. New Eng.] Bartlett. Folk song, one of a class of songs long popular with the common people.

– Folk speech, the speech of the common people, as distinguished from that of the educated class.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

22 December 2024

SUNGLASSES

(noun) (plural) spectacles that are darkened or polarized to protect the eyes from the glare of the sun; “he was wearing a pair of mirrored shades”


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Coffee Trivia

Plain brewed coffee contains almost no calories, while coffee with dairy products, sugar, and other flavorings is much higher in calories. An espresso has 20 calories. A nonfat latte has 72, while a flavored one has 134.

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