Ilk: Definition: sort, kind
The Old English pronoun ilca is the
predecessor of the modern noun ilk, but by way of a pronoun ilk that does not
exist in most dialects of modern English. That ilk is synonymous with same, and
persists in Scots where it's used in the phrase "of that ilk,"
meaning "of the same place, territorial designation, or name." It is
used chiefly in reference to the names of land-owning families and their
eponymous estates, as in "the Guthries of that ilk," which means
"the Guthries of Guthrie." Centuries ago a misunderstanding arose
concerning the Scots phrase: it was interpreted as meaning "of that kind
or sort," a usage that found its way into modern English. Ilk has been
established in English with its current meaning and part of speech since the
late 18th century.