knark
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A hard-hearted or savage person. The word is now usually spelt NARK, and is applied to the lowest class of informers.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “knark” mean?
A hard-hearted or savage person. The word is now usually spelt NARK, and is applied to the lowest class of informers.
Is “knark” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.