Spunk

/spʌŋk/ · noun

Meaning

(countable, obsolete) A spark..

Definitions by Sense

1. (countable, obsolete) A spark.
2. (uncountable) Touchwood; tinder.
3. (countable, UK, obsolete) Synonym of taper, a thin stick used for transferring flames, especially a sulfur match.
4. (countable, Scotland, obsolete) Synonym of match, a thin chemically-treated stick used for creating flames.
5. (uncountable) Courage; spirit; mettle; determination.
6. (countable, UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) An attractive person; a good-looker.
7. (uncountable, chiefly UK, vulgar, slang) Semen.
8. (intransitive, obsolete) To catch fire; flame up.

Example Sentences

"[...] That's none such an entirely bad little man, yon little man with the red head," said Alan. "He has some spunks of decency."

He […] took from his waistcoatpocket a nickel tinderbox, sprang it open too, and, having lit his cigarette, held the flaming spunk towards Stephen in the shell of his hands.

Spunk, or Touch-wood prepared, might perhaps make it Russet: and some, as Beringuccio affirmeth, have promised to make it Red.

A piece of Touch-wood (which is a kind of Jews-ear, or Mushrom, growing here in England also, on several sorts of Trees, such as Elders, Maples, Willows, &c. and is commonly call'd by the name of Spunk[…]).

At present, her only means of procuring subsistence for herself and children, is by making spunks or matches, which, either she or her eldest child, a girl about six years of age, sells from door to door.

... the old sulphur match was intended, not to produce fire, but to convey fire from the tinder to the candle... The vernacular name for sulphur matches was "spunks", and even in some of the country districts of Scotland the name has descended to modern matches.

“Spunks — spunks — spunks — who will buy my spunks?” — cried an errant voice with a beseeching earnestness[…].

1847, Anne Brontë, Agnes Grey, ch 17. She showed me the letters of another individual, too, the unfortunate Mr. Green, who had not the courage, or, as she expressed it, the “spunk,” to plead his cause in person, but whom one denial would not satisfy: he must write again and again.

Synonyms for spunk

Antonyms for spunk

Related Words

Word Forms

• spunks
• spunking
• spunked

Usage Notes

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