1) A large wooden chest or coffer used to store food, especially malt or meal.
1341 lego dictć Alicie … unum archam quć fuit matris ejusdem Agnetis, York
1419 Item lego Alicie … filie mee, j Archam, Pontefract
1535 ij flesche erkes, Stillingfleet
1549 I bequeathe to John Ramesden ... to be heirlomes ij scleddes, a plughe, a narke, a counter, a lange settill and a kiste, Elland
1551 my lesse meale arke, Warley
1573 one great Arke standynge in the nether chamber, Crosland
1614 one great troughe in the chamber and one arke in the laith, Barwick
1628 to Ellen Guy his mother one greate arke called Malt Arke, Hartwith
1647 had a load of meale out of the new ark, Thurlstone
1748 one mail [meal] ark, Sowerby.