tonk

[ tongk ]

/ tɒŋk /

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noun

a form of rummy for two or more players with deuces wild.

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Origin of tonk

1920–25; compare British, Australian tonk (informal) to strike, beat, defeat

Words nearby tonk

tonic, tonic accent, tonicity, tonic sol-fa, tonight, tonk, tonka bean, Tonkin, Tonkinese, Tonle Sap, tonlet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use tonk in a sentence

In 1988 he dethroned The Honky Tonk Man in only seconds at Summerslam at Madison Square Garden.
The WWE Mourns the Death of Wrestling Icon Ultimate Warrior|Marina Watts|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It came nearer and became plainer—tonk-tonk-tonk; then the tonks all running together briskly.
The Escape of Mr. Trimm|Irvin S. Cobb
Even so, his ear was first to catch above the rattle of the buggy wheels the far-away, faint tonk-tonk!
The Escape of Mr. Trimm|Irvin S. Cobb
Amir Khan consented to disband his army, on condition of being guaranteed the possession of what is now the principality of Tonk.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 4|Various

Even so, his ear was first to catch above the rattle of the buggy wheels the faraway, faint tonk-tonk!
Kentucky in American Letters, v. 2 of 2|John Wilson Townsend
Sarah Brown was rapidly becoming exasperated with everybody concerned, but not least with the evidently camouflaging Tonk.
Living Alone|Stella Benson

British Dictionary definitions for tonk (1 of 2)

tonk¹

/ (tɒŋk) /

verb

informal to strike with a heavy blow

Word Origin for tonk

C20: of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for tonk (2 of 2)

tonk²

/ (tɒŋk) /

noun

Australian slang an effete or effeminate man

Word Origin for tonk

C20: origin unknown

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012