spunk

[ spuhngk ]

noun

1. pluck; spirit; mettle.
2. touchwood, tinder, or punk.

spunk

/ spʌŋk /

noun

1. informal.
   courage or spirit
2. See semen
   a slang word for semen
3. touchwood or tinder, esp originally made from various spongy types of fungus
4. informal.
   a person, esp male, who is sexually attractive

Usage

The second sense of this word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary . However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use

Derived Forms

• ˈspunkily, adverb
• ˈspunky, adjective

Other Words From

• spunkless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spunk¹

1530–40; blend of spark ¹ and obsolete funk spark, touchwood (cognate with Dutch vonk, German Funke )

Word History and Origins

Origin of spunk¹

C16 (in the sense: a spark): from Scottish Gaelic spong tinder, sponge, from Latin spongia sponge

Example Sentences

She got up in their faces with a fashionable statement which most of them detest, but she got rave reviews and ovations from people who appreciate her spunk.

From TruthBeTold.news

She’s half Greta Thunberg’s age but has all of the teen climate change leader’s spunk.

From Ozy

Granted, previously winless Penn State showed some spunk in a 27-17 victory in Ann Arbor.

From Washington Post

ASELTON: Spunk, man-cave, toilet-kitchen… What were some of your favorite things on the show to come out of improvising?

From The Daily Beast

The Spunk pretended to be shying—put on the rags as if he was going to try legs with the Devastation.

From Project Gutenberg

Split meets the schooner Spunk, Skipper Pluck, afore he begun to get to the line, outside of which he could fish according to law.

From Project Gutenberg

"I think I should have liked to know Spunk," smiled Marie from the other side of the sewing table.

From Project Gutenberg

"Of course Billy's got Spunk, but—" he hesitated, and smiled a little.

From Project Gutenberg

I hope you don't, for I couldn't live without Spunk, and he couldn't live with out me.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fortitude
• grit
• gumption
• guts
• mettle
• moxie
• toughness