WELK, verb intransitive [G., to wither, to fade, to decay; primarily to shrink or contract, as things in drying, whence the Saxon weole, a whilk or whelk, a shell; from its wrinkles.] To decline; to fade; to decay; to fall. When ruddy Phoebus gins to welk in west. WELK, verb transitive To contract; to shorten. Now sad winter welked hath the day-- [This word is obsolete. But its signification has heretofore been misunderstood.]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI