nark

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

Uncertain. Perhaps from Angloromani nok (“nose”), from Romani nakh, from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀡𑀓𑁆𑀓 (ṇakka), ultimately a doublet of nose.

THE NOTE TAKER [with quick interest] What’s a copper’s nark? — Pygmalion, Bernard Shaw
"Oh, I say, ain't it a blessed nark to the men us going to have a vote? — Some Everyday Folk and Dawn, Miles Franklin
Captain Barillon was the great gentleman-apache before your time; he died in a madhouse, screaming with fear of the “narks” and receivers that had betrayed him and hunted him down. — The innocence of Father Brown, G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton

copper's nark

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