Word often used to mean "parents," usually said by a teenage-age person, in the form of "my folks". Informal. More widespread than 'rents.

Bill O'Reilly likes to call Americans (his audience) "the folks at home (want to know, need...)"

Folk (?), Folks (?), n. collect. & pl. [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS. & OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. flk, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd, and perh. to E. follow.]

1. Eng. Hist.

In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe.

[Obs.]

The organization of each folk, as such, sprang mainly from war. J. R. Green.

2.

People in general, or a separate class of people; -- generally used in the plural form, and often with a qualifying adjective; as, the old folks; poor folks.

[Colloq.]

In winter's tedious nights, sit by the fire With good old folks, and let them tell thee tales. Shak.

3.

The persons of one's own family; as, our folks are all well.

[Colloq. New Eng.]

Bartlett.

Folk song, one of a class of songs long popular with the common people. -- Folk speech, the speech of the common people, as distinguished from that of the educated class.

 

© Webster 1913.

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