shirk
UK[ʃɜːk]US[ʃɜːrk]
v
To avoid doing something difficult, unpleasant, or that you are responsible for.
Etymology
The verb "shirk" entered English in the 17th century, likely from the German Schurke, a term for a villainous or lazy person. This Germanic root carries the core idea of evildoing and avoidance of honest work. Over time, the English word shed its strong association with outright villainy and specialized to describe the specific act of evading duty or responsibility. The semantic evolution thus narrowed from a general term for a rogue's character to the specific action of avoiding an obligation, capturing the essence of negligent behavior.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It is likely derived from German schurke, meaning "rogue" or "scoundrel," with possible influence from obsolete English shirk meaning "to practice fraud."
Examples
He never shirks his responsibilities at work.
You must not shirk from making the difficult decision.
She accused him of shirking his share of the household chores.