perk 1
— perkingly , adv. — perkish , adj.
/perrk/ , v.i.
1. to become lively, cheerful, or vigorous, as after depression or sickness (usually fol. by up ): The patients all perked up when we played the piano for them.
2. to act, or carry oneself, in a jaunty manner.
3. to put oneself forward briskly or presumptuously.
v.t.
4. to make smart, trim, or jaunty (sometimes fol. by up or out ): to perk up a suit with a new white blouse.
5. to raise smartly or briskly (often fol. by up or out ): to perk one's head up.
adj.
6. perky; jaunty: a perk manner.
[ 1350-1400; ME perken; perh. akin to PEER 2 ]
perk 2
/perrk/ , v.i., v.t. Informal.
to percolate: Has the coffee perked yet? The research team is perking with new ideas.
[ 1930-35, Amer.; by shortening and resp. of PERCOLATE ]
perk 3
/perrk/ , n. Informal.
perquisite.
[ 1815-25; by shortening and resp. ]