Dreck
/drɛk/noun
Something regarded as worthless, dirty, or of very poor quality.
Did you know?Dreck entered English through Yiddish, where it became especially useful for dismissing both physical dirt and things considered culturally or morally contemptible.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*þreką
“Filth, dirt, or excrement”
Old High German
OHG
tρεc / trec
“Filth or dung”
Middle High German
MHG
drec
“Dirt, excrement, or something contemptible”
17th–18th Century
Yiddish
drek
“Filth, dirt, or worthless matter”
19th Century
English
dreck
“Filth, rubbish, or inferior material”
Modern English
English
dreck
“Worthless, shoddy, or artistically poor material”