nark (nark) noun
1. An annoying person.
2. A stool pigeon or informer

verb intr.
1. To irritate or annoy.
2. To be an informer.

[From Romany nak (nose). Ultimately from Indo-European root nas- (nose) that is also the source of other words for nose: English nose, Hindi nak, Spanish nariz, French nez, and related words nuzzle, nostril, and nasal.]

Another great word for limerick lovers!

"Nark" comes from "nose". Come to think of it, the nose is the most maligned orifice above the waist. [Personally, I think it's a bum rap.]

Nose not only gave us "nark", but it gave us "nosey", "brown nose", "keep your nose out of my business" and "nosing around".

The closest we ever get to giving the nose an even break is when we say "It's as plain as the nose on your face." And a guy with a broken nose is a "pug nose", or just a "pug".

You can get a cauliflower ear, but no-one ever called a guy with a cauliflower ear a "cauliflower".

And if you're going to spite your face, what are you going to cut off? Your ear? Lots of people pierce their ears, and some even cut them off. Van Gogh did it. Why do we have to pick our nose for this aphorism?

Any way back to "nark". A "nark" is a stool pigeon and it sounds even worse than a rat.