chark

plural charks

1. countableuncountableCharcoal; coke.

   ... so I contrived to burn some wood here, as I had seen done in England, under turf, till it became chark or dry coal ...

   1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

2. countableuncountableA pointed stick, which when placed with the point against another piece of wood, and spun rapidly in alternate directions with the aid of attached cords, produces enough heat by friction to create a fire; a fire drill.

   1 more example

   The discoverer of the chark, or " fire-drill," an instrument for obtaining fire by artificial means, would be so great a benefactor to a people that had to suffer all the inconveniences resulting from occasional fireless hearths, that we may well understand why he may be invested by his astonished and delighted fellow-savages with miraculous or supernatural powers.

   1872, Charles Hardwick, Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-lore

3. UScountableuncountableAlaskaA wine glass.

   At noon, each man got his half-chark (a wine glass) full of rum and a four-quart iron pot of fish soup made from salt salmon, potatoes and graham flour ... in the evening another half chark of rum and 20 cents as pay for the day's work.

   2006, Phyllis Downing Carlson, Laurel Downing Bill, Aunt Phil's Trunk: Early Alaska

4. countableuncountableA Middle Eastern falcon, probably the lanner.

   A good chark will sometimes take as many as eight or ten bustards or five or six gazelles in the course of a morning.

   1856, Austen Henry Layard, Discoveries among the ruins of Nineveh and Babylon, 2nd edition

present singular third person charks · participle present charking · participle past charked · past charked

1. To reduce by strong heat, as to produce charcoal or coke; to calcine.

   The method which the Romans now taught them of charking the coal continues eſſentially the ſame until the preſent moment.

   1771, John Whitaker, The History of Manchester, volume 1

   2 more examples

   1749, John Lowthorp, Royal Society of Great Britain, The Philosophical Transactions and Collections to the end of the year MDCC, 5th Edition, I have ſeen Turf chark'd, and then it ſerves to work Iron, and, as I have been inform'd will ſerve to make it in a Bloomery or Iron-work. Turf chark'd I reckon the ſweeteſt and wholeſomeſt Fire that can be, fitter for a Chamber and conſumptive People, than either Wood, Stone-Coal or Charcoal.

   “He's not the first driver that's charked, and he won't be the last,” Modelar said, speaking low. “The day you no longer accept that is the day you hang up your spurs.”

   2014, Chris Evans, Of Bone and Thunder

present singular third person charks · participle present charking · participle past charked · past charked

1. ScotlandTo make a grating sound.

   The hoarse charking conversation which they carried on was calculated to support the delusion.

   1820, Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, volume 7