Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Welk

Welk , intransitive verb

[Old English welken; compare Dutch & German welken to wither, German welk withered, Old High German welc moist. See Welkin, and compare Wilt.]

To wither; to fade; also, to decay; to decline; to wane. [Obsolete]
When ruddy Phoebus 'gins to welk in west. — Spenser
The church, that before by insensible degrees welked and impaired, now with large steps went down hill decaying. — Milton

Welk , transitive verb

1.
To cause to wither; to wilt. [Obsolete]
Mot thy welked neck be to-broke [broken]. — Chaucer
2.
To contract; to shorten. [Obsolete]
Now sad winter welked hath the day. — Spenser
3.
To soak; also, to beat severely. [Provincial English]

Welk , noun

A pustule. See 2d Whelk.

Welk , noun

(Zoology) A whelk. [Rare]