Etymology

gork

G2O1R1K5

Today it means: A terminal patient whose brain is nonfunctional and the rest of whose body can be kept functioning only by the extensive use of mechanical devices and nutrient solutions. Full definition →

Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

1970–75; perhaps back-formation from gorked (slang), meaning "anesthetized"; apparently an expressive coinage.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.