The Collaborative International Dictionary
Merk \Merk\, n. [See Marc.] An old Scotch silver coin; a mark or marc. [Scot.]
Merk \Merk\, n.
A mark; a sign. [Obs.]
--Chaucer.
Wiktionary
n. (obsolete spelling of mark English) vb. (alternative spelling of murk nodot=yes English) (to murder)
Wikipedia
The merk was a Scottish silver coin. Originally the same word as a money mark of silver, the merk was in circulation at the end of the 16th century and in the 17th century. It was originally valued at 13 s 4 d (exactly of a pound Scots, or about one English shilling), later raised to 14s Scots. In addition to merks, half-merk and quarter-merk coins were produced with values of, respectively, 7s and 3s 6d, as well as a four-merk coin of 56s (£2 16s).
The first issue weighed and was 50% silver and 50% base metals, thus it contained of silver, worth about £1.45 ($2.27) at August 2013 prices.
"Markland" or "Merkland" was used to describe an amount of land in Scottish deeds and legal papers. It was based upon a common valuation of the land.
Merk may refer to:
- Merk (coin), old Scottish coin worth 13 schillings and 4 pence Scots
- Merkland, old Scottish unit of land measurement
- Mérk, village in eastern Hungary
- Merk, Iran, village in Kurdistan Province, Iran
- Ernst Merk (1903–1976), WWII German army officer
- Frederick Merk (1887–1977), American historian
- Joseph Merk (1795–1852), Austrian cellist and composer
- Larisa Merk (born 1971), Russian rower
- Markus Merk (born 1962), German football referee
- Waldemar Merk (born 1959), Polish sprint canoer
Usage examples of "merk".
Did Mosk and Merk really fight with spears of fire, and were they even giants?
Heart of Mid-Louden for a thousand merk he borrowed from Saunders Wyliecoat the writer.
Officer Cindy Merk had just finished brewing coffee when Flaherty and Donaldson arrived.
Sir Francis in 1279 Simon the Draper obtained the Manor of Otterbourne for 600 merks, and a quit rent of a pair of gilt spurs valued at six pence!