ilk

pronoun \ ˈilk \

Definition of ilk

chiefly Scotland

: same —used with that especially in the names of landed families

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Origin and Etymology of ilk

Middle English, from Old English ilca, from *i- that, the same (akin to Goth is he, Latin, he, that) + *lik- form (whence Old English līc body) — more at iterate, like

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First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined above

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ilk

noun

Definition of ilk

: sort, kind

politicians and their ilk

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Examples of ilk in a Sentence

The club attracts punk rockers and others of that ilk.
we're looking for chestnuts and other items of that ilk for our autumn decorations

Did You Know?

The Old English pronoun ilca is the predecessor of the modern noun ilk, but by way of a pronoun ilk that does not exist in most dialects of modern English. That ilk is synonymous with same, and persists in Scots where it's used in the phrase of that ilk, meaning "of the same place, territorial designation, or name." It is used chiefly in reference to the names of land-owning families and their eponymous estates, as in "the Guthries of that ilk," which means "the Guthries of Guthrie." Centuries ago a misunderstanding arose concerning the Scots phrase: it was interpreted as meaning "of that kind or sort," a usage that found its way into modern English. Ilk has been established in English with its current meaning and part of speech since the late 18th century.