skunk
[skuhngk]
noun, plural skunks, (especially collectively) skunk.
a small North American mammal, Mephitis mephitis, of the weasel family, having a black coat with a white, V-shaped stripe on the back, and ejecting a fetid odor when alarmed or attacked.
any of several related or similar animals.Compare hog-nosed skunk, spotted skunk.
Informal. a thoroughly contemptible person.
U.S. Navy Slang. an unidentified ship or target.
verb (used with object)
Slang. to defeat thoroughly in a game, especially while keeping an opponent from scoring: The team skunked the favorites in the crucial game.
Origin of skunk
1625–35, Americanism; < the Massachusett reflex of Proto-Algonquian *šeka·kwa (derivative of *šek- urinate + -a·kw fox, foxlike animal
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for skunk
Contemporary Examples of skunk
Historical Examples of skunk
Of course the puppy barked; of course the skunk did not like it.
A Woman TenderfootGrace Gallatin Seton-Thompson
Was the occupant a rat or a skunk, and if so, what was he going to do?
A Woman TenderfootGrace Gallatin Seton-Thompson
Because I've got a whole lot of respect for the skunk family.
With Trapper Jim in the North WoodsLawrence J. Leslie
Why, there are a whole lot of skunk farms all over the Northern States.
With Trapper Jim in the North WoodsLawrence J. Leslie
The Pole-cat or Skunk is about the size of a kitten eight months old.
The History of LouisianaLe Page Du Pratz
skunk
noun plural skunks or skunk
verb
Word Origin for skunk
C17: from Algonquian; compare Abnaki segākw skunk
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper