I. ˈklərk, Brit usu ˈklärk noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French clerk & Old English cleric, clerc, both from Late Latin clericus, from Late Greek klērikos, from Greek klēros lot, inheritance (in allusion to Deuteronomy 18:2), stick of wood; akin to Greek klan to break — more at clast
Date: before 12th century
1. : cleric
2. archaic : scholar
3.
a. : an official responsible (as to a government agency) for correspondence, records, and accounts and vested with specified powers or authority (as to issue writs as ordered by a court)
city clerk
b. : one employed to keep records or accounts or to perform general office work
c. : one who works at a sales or service counter
• clerk·ship -ˌship noun
II. intransitive verb
Date: 1551
: to act or work as a clerk