Cork

n. [ Cf. G., Dan., & Sw. kork, D. kurk; all fr. Sp. corcho, fr. L. cortex, corticis, bark, rind. Cf. Cortex. ] 1. The outer layer of the bark of the cork tree (Quercus Suber), of which stoppers for bottles and casks are made. See Cutose. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stopper for a bottle or cask, cut out of cork. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A mass of tabular cells formed in any kind of bark, in greater or less abundance. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Cork is sometimes used wrongly for calk, calker; calkin, a sharp piece of iron on the shoe of a horse or ox. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cork jackets, a jacket having thin pieces of cork inclosed within canvas, and used to aid in swimming. --
Cork tree (Bot.), the species of oak (Quercus Suber of Southern Europe) whose bark furnishes the cork of commerce. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The charge made by innkeepers for drawing the cork and taking care of bottles of wine bought elsewhere by a guest. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. having acquired an unpleasant taste from the cork; as, a bottle of wine is corked. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Min.) A variety of amianthus which is very light, like cork. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being corky. [ 1913 Webster ]

A pin of a large size, formerly used attaching a woman's headdress to a cork mold. [ Obs. ] Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To press forward in a winding way; as, to corkscrew one's way through a crowd. [ Colloq. ] Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. shaped like a corkscrew; spiral; helical. [ PJC ]

corkscrew stairs, a spiral staircase around a solid newel. [ 1913 Webster ]