The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Shirk \Shirk\, n.
   One who lives by shifts and tricks; one who avoids the
   performance of duty or labor.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Shirk \Shirk\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shirked; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Shirking.] [Probably the same word as shark. See Shark,
   v. t.]
   1. To procure by petty fraud and trickery; to obtain by mean
      solicitation.
      [1913 Webster]

            You that never heard the call of any vocation, . . .
            that shirk living from others, but time from
            Yourselves.                           --Bp. Rainbow.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To avoid; to escape; to neglect; -- implying
      unfaithfulness or fraud; as, to shirk duty.
      [1913 Webster]

            The usual makeshift by which they try to shirk
            difficulties.                         --Hare.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Shirk \Shirk\, v. i.
   1. To live by shifts and fraud; to shark.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To evade an obligation; to avoid the performance of duty,
      as by running away.
      [1913 Webster]

            One of the cities shirked from the league. --Byron.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

shirk
    v 1: avoid (one's assigned duties); "The derelict soldier
         shirked his duties" [syn: fiddle, shirk, shrink from,
         goldbrick]
    2: avoid dealing with; "She shirks her duties"