punkie
[ puhng-kee ]
/ ˈpʌŋ ki /
noun
any of the minute biting gnats of the family Ceratopogonidae.
Origin of punkie
1760–70, Americanism; < New York Dutch *punkje, alteration of Munsee Delaware pónkwəs (equivalent to Proto-Algonquian *penkw- dust, ashes + *-ehs- diminutive suffix) + Dutch -je diminutive suffix
Also called biting midge, no-see-um.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for punkie
Jean gave in and varnished his pelt thoroughly with my "punkie dope," as he called it; but, too late; the mischief was done.
Woodcraft and Camping|George Washington Sears (Nessmuk)