walk

Word Origin & History

Old English wealcan "to toss, roll," and wealcian "to roll up, curl, muffle up," from Proto-Germanic *welk- (cf. Old Norse valka "to drag about," Danish valke "to full," Middle Dutch walken "to knead, press, full," Old High German walchan "to knead," German walken "to full"), perhaps ultimately from PIE root *wel- "to turn, bend, twist, roll" (see volvox).

Meaning shifted in early Middle English, perhaps from colloquial use of the Old English word. "Rarely is there so specific a word as NE walk, clearly distinguished from both go and run" [Buck]. Meaning "to go away" is recorded from mid-15c. Transitive meaning "to exercise a dog (or horse)" is from late 15c. The surname Walker probably preserves the cloth-fulling sense. Related: Walked; walking.

Example Sentences forwalk

To the disgust of the latter, Robert actually had the presumption to walk home with Hester.

At Percival's suggestion of a walk, Miss Milbrey was delighted.

"I'll walk a bit with you," said his sister, donning her jacket and a cap.

"You'll be too proud to walk with your ould mother," said Mrs. Malone.

We can only crawl along, having to walk and lead the horses, or at least drag them.

Early this morning we continued on, Windich's horse scarcely able to walk.

I had hard work to get them along, and at last they would not walk.

I think I'll walk down to Hanford's and have the matter adjusted.

They may walk, to be sure, but it is exactly the inducement to walk that they require.

Mr. Gladstone was in good health, and in the afternoon went out for a walk.

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