Folk /(fōk)/

Folk

n. collect. & pl.
  1. In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe. (Eng. Hist.) [Obs.]
    The organization of each folk, as such, sprang mainly from war.
    — J. R. Green.
  2. People in general, or a separate class of people; -- generally used in the plural form, and often with a qualifying adjective; as, the old folks; poor folks. [Colloq.]
    In winter's tedious nights, sit by the fire With good old folks, and let them tell thee tales.
  3. The persons of one's own family; as, our folks are all well. [Colloq. New Eng.]

Phrases & Compounds
Folk song
one of a class of songs long popular with the common people.
Folk speech
the speech of the common people, as distinguished from that of the educated class.