Skunk

Pronunciation

• IPA: /skʌŋk/
• Rhymes: -ʌŋk

At first spelt squunck, from the Abenaki name for the animal, segôgw, segonku ("he who squirts
urinates"), from Proto-Algonquian *šeka·kwa, from *šek- ("to urinate") (whence Abenaki seg-) + *(w)a·kw(ehsa) ("fox") (whence Abenaki (w)ôkw(ses)).

Full definition of skunk

Noun

1. Any of various small mammals, of the family Mephitidae, native to North and Central America, having a glossy black with a white coat and two musk glands at the base of the tail for emitting a noxious smell as a defensive measure.
2. (slang) A despicable person.
3. (slang) Short for skunkweed (marijuana).
4. (slang) A walkover victory in sports or board games, as when the opposing side is unable to score. Compare shutout.
5. (cribbage) A win by 30 or more points. (''Double skunk > 60 points, triple skunk >

Derived terms

• drunk as a skunk
• skunky

Verb

1. To defeat so badly as to prevent any opposing points.I skunked him at cards.We fished all day but the lake skunked us.
2. (cribbage) To win by 30 or more points.
3. (intransitive, of beer) to go bad, to spoil

skinheadpunk, influenced by the animal (Etymology 1).

Noun

1. A member of a hybrid skinhead and punk subculture.
• 2006, Pam Nilan, Carles Feixa, Global Youth?: Hybrid Identities, Plural Worlds (page 192)In the early 1980s, certain ex-punks joined them, becoming 'skunks' – a hybrid subculture of skinheads and punks.
• 2011, Gerard DeGroot (quoting Brown), Seventies Unplugged...mods, skins, suedes, smoothies, punks, skunks, rude boys, soul boys and headbangers...----