Main Entry:

¹clerk

Pronunciation:

\ˈklərk, British usually ˈklärk\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French clerk & Old English cleric, clerc, both from Late Latin clericus, from Late Greek klērikos, from Greek klēros lot, inheritance (in allusion to Deuteronomy 18:2), stick of wood; akin to Greek klan to break — more at clast

Date:

before 12th century

1: cleric2archaic : scholar3 a: an official responsible (as to a government agency) for correspondence, records, and accounts and vested with specified powers or authority (as to issue writs as ordered by a court) <city clerk> b: one employed to keep records or accounts or to perform general office work c: one who works at a sales or service counter

— clerk·ship \-ˌship\ noun