skunk
English
Alternative forms
- (obsolete) scunck
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Borrowed from an unattested Southern New England Eastern AlgonquianCategory:English terms borrowed from Eastern Algonquian languages#SKUNKCategory:English terms derived from Eastern Algonquian languages#SKUNK word cognate with Abenaki segôgw (literally “he who squirts (musk) / urinates”)Category:Abenaki links with redundant alt parameters#SKUNK, from Proto-AlgonquianCategory:English terms derived from Proto-Algonquian#SKUNK *šeka·kwa, from *šek- (“to urinate”). Doublet of ChicagoCategory:English doublets#SKUNK.
Noun
skunk (plural skunks)Category:English lemmas#SKUNKCategory:English nouns#SKUNKCategory:English countable nouns#SKUNKCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#SKUNKCategory:Pages with entries#SKUNKCategory:Pages with 6 entries#SKUNK (originally Canada, USCategory:Canadian English#SKUNKCategory:American English#SKUNK)
- Any of various small mammals, of most genera of the family Mephitidae, native to North and Central America, having a glossy black with a white coat and two musk glands at the base of the tail for emitting a noxious smell as a defensive measure.
- 1634, William Wood, “Of the Beasts that Live on the Land”, in New Englands Prospect. A True, Lively, and Experimentall Description of that Part of America, Commonly Called New England; […], London: […] Tho[mas] Cotes, for Iohn Bellamie, […], →OCLC, 1st part, pages 22–23:
- The beaſts of offence be Squunckes, Ferrets, Foxes, vvhoſe impudence ſometimes drives them to the good vvives Hen rooſt, to fill their Paunch: ſome of theſe be blacke; their furre is of much eſteeme.Category:English terms with quotations#SKUNK
- (slangCategory:English slang#SKUNK, derogatoryCategory:English derogatory terms#SKUNK, datedCategory:English dated terms#SKUNK) A despicable person.
- 1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 152:
- In fact, the term he applied to this species of human being was "skunk," and he used it freely.Category:English terms with quotations#SKUNK
- (slangCategory:English slang#SKUNK, derogatoryCategory:English derogatory terms#SKUNK, datedCategory:English dated terms#SKUNK) Anything very bad; a stinker.
- 1987, English Journal, volume 76, numbers 5-8, page 52:
- On the other hand, many critics contend that in terms of literary quality, many of the multiple-storyline books are true skunks.Category:English terms with quotations#SKUNK
- (slangCategory:English slang#SKUNK) A walkover victory in sports or board games, as when the opposing side is unable to score.
- Coordinate term: shutout
- (cribbageCategory:en:Cribbage#SKUNK) A win by thirty or more points. (A double skunk is sixty or more, a triple skunk ninety or more.)
Derived terms
- badger skunkCategory:Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa#badger%20skunk (Conepatus spp.)
- big skunkCategory:Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa#big%20skunk (Mephitis spp.)
- deskunk
- drunk as a skunk
- drunker than a skunk
- hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus spp.)
- hooded skunk (Mephites macrouraCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Mephites%20macroura)
- hydrophobia skunk (Spilogale angustifronsCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Spilogale%20angustifrons)
- knock a skunk off a gut wagon
- rooter skunkCategory:Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa#rooter%20skunk (Conepatus leuconotusCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Conepatus%20leuconotus)
- skunk ape
- skunk at a garden party, skunk at the garden party
- skunkbag
- skunkballCategory:Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa#skunkball (Melanitta perspicillata)
- skunkbear
- skunk bearCategory:Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa#skunk%20bear (Gulo gulo
- skunkbillCategory:Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa#skunkbill (Melanitta perspicillata)
- skunkbirdCategory:English links with redundant wikilinks#SKUNKCategory:English links with redundant alt parameters#SKUNK, skunk blackbird (Dolichonyx oryzivorusCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Dolichonyx%20oryzivorus)
- skunkbush (Rhus trilobataCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Rhus%20trilobata)
- skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus et al.))
- skunk currantCategory:Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa#skunk%20currant (Ribes glandulosumCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Ribes%20glandulosum)
- skunk dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersoniiCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Cephalorhynchus%20commersonii)
- skunked term
- skunkery
- skunk grassCategory:Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa#skunk%20grass (Eragrostis spp.)
- skunkhead (Melanitta perspicillata)
- skunkie
- skunkish
- skunkless
- skunklet
- skunklike
- skunk pig (Tayassuidae spp.)
- skunk porpoiseCategory:Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa#skunk%20porpoise (Lagenorhynchus spp.)
- skunk pox (Skunkpox virus)
- skunk spruce (Picea glaucaCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Picea%20glauca)
- skunk tail (Sitanion hystrixCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Sitanion%20hystrix)
- skunk tree (Sterculia foetida)
- skunk turtleCategory:Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa#skunk%20turtle (Sternotherus odoratusCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Sternotherus%20odoratus et al.)
- skunk up
- skunkweed, skunk-weed (Polemonium viscosumCategory:Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)#Polemonium%20viscosum)
- skunk works, skunkworks
- skunky
- spotted skunk (Spilogale spp.)
- stink a skunk off a gut wagon
- striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
Descendants
- → Czech: skunk
- → Danish: skunk
- → German: Skunk
- → Finnish: skunkki
- → French: skunks
- → Icelandic: skunkur
- → Japanese: スカンク (sukanku)Category:Japanese terms with redundant script codes#SKUNK
- → Kashubian: skunk (Canada, United States)
- → Norwegian: skunk
- → Polish: skunks
- → Russian: скунс (skuns)
- → Slovak: skunk
- → Swedish: skunk
Translations
Verb
skunk (third-person singular simple present skunks, present participle skunking, simple past and past participle skunked)Category:English lemmas#SKUNKCategory:English verbs#SKUNKCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#SKUNKCategory:Pages with entries#SKUNKCategory:Pages with 6 entries#SKUNK
- (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#SKUNK, slangCategory:English slang#SKUNK) To defeat so badly as to prevent any opposing points.
- I skunked him at cards.Category:English terms with usage examples#SKUNK
- We fished all day but the lake skunked us.Category:English terms with usage examples#SKUNK
- (cribbageCategory:en:Cribbage#SKUNK) To win by thirty or more points.
- (intransitiveCategory:English intransitive verbs#SKUNK, of beerCategory:en:Beer#SKUNK) To go bad, to spoil.
See also
Etymology 2
Blend of skinhead + punkCategory:English blends#SKUNK, influenced by the animal (Etymology 1).
Noun
skunk (plural skunks)Category:English lemmas#SKUNKCategory:English nouns#SKUNKCategory:English countable nouns#SKUNKCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#SKUNKCategory:Pages with entries#SKUNKCategory:Pages with 6 entries#SKUNK
- A member of a hybrid skinhead and punk subculture.
- 2006, Pam Nilan, Carles Feixa, Global Youth?: Hybrid Identities, Plural Worlds, page 192:
- In the early 1980s, certain ex-punks joined them, becoming 'skunks' – a hybrid subculture of skinheads and punks.Category:English terms with quotations#SKUNK
- 2011, Gerard DeGroot (quoting Brown), Seventies Unplugged
- […] mods, skins, suedes, smoothies, punks, skunks, rude boys, soul boys and headbangers […]
Etymology 3
From skunkweed (“certain highly aromatic marijuana”).
Noun
skunk (countable and uncountable, plural skunks)Category:English lemmas#SKUNKCategory:English nouns#SKUNKCategory:English uncountable nouns#SKUNKCategory:English countable nouns#SKUNKCategory:English countable nouns#SKUNKCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#SKUNKCategory:Pages with entries#SKUNKCategory:Pages with 6 entries#SKUNK
- (slangCategory:English slang#SKUNK) Clipping of skunkweed, type of marijuanaCategory:English clippings#SKUNK.
- Any of the strains of hybrids of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica that may have THC levels exceeding those of typical hashish.
Czech
Noun
skunk m animCategory:Czech lemmas#SKUNKCategory:Czech nouns#SKUNKCategory:Czech entries with incorrect language header#SKUNKCategory:Czech masculine nouns#SKUNKCategory:Czech animate nouns#SKUNKCategory:Pages with entries#SKUNKCategory:Pages with 6 entries#SKUNK
- skunk (animal)
Declension
Further reading
- “skunk”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
- “skunk”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
Danish
Etymology 1
Possibly from Old NorseCategory:Danish terms derived from Old Norse#SKUNK skukka (“wrinkle”).
Noun
skunk c (singular definite skunken, plural indefinite skunke or skunker)Category:Danish lemmas#SKUNKCategory:Danish nouns#SKUNKCategory:Danish nouns with red links in their headword lines#SKUNKCategory:Danish entries with incorrect language header#SKUNKCategory:Danish common-gender nouns#SKUNKCategory:Pages with entries#SKUNKCategory:Pages with 6 entries#SKUNK
- the enclosed space behind a knee wall.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from EnglishCategory:Danish terms borrowed from English#SKUNKCategory:Danish terms derived from English#SKUNK skunk.
Noun
skunk c (singular definite skunken, plural indefinite skunke)Category:Danish lemmas#SKUNKCategory:Danish nouns#SKUNKCategory:Danish nouns with red links in their headword lines#SKUNKCategory:Danish entries with incorrect language header#SKUNKCategory:Danish common-gender nouns#SKUNKCategory:Pages with entries#SKUNKCategory:Pages with 6 entries#SKUNK
- skunk (mammal)
- Synonym: stinkdyr
- (uncountableCategory:Danish uncountable nouns#SKUNK) skunk (cannabis)
Dutch
Etymology
Borrowed from EnglishCategory:Dutch terms borrowed from English#SKUNKCategory:Dutch terms derived from English#SKUNK skunk.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /skʏŋk/Category:Dutch terms with IPA pronunciation#SKUNK
Category:Dutch terms with audio pronunciation#SKUNKAudio: (file) - Hyphenation: skunk
Noun
skunk m (uncountable, no diminutive)Category:Dutch lemmas#SKUNKCategory:Dutch nouns#SKUNKCategory:Dutch uncountable nouns#SKUNKCategory:Dutch entries with incorrect language header#SKUNKCategory:Dutch masculine nouns#SKUNKCategory:Pages with entries#SKUNKCategory:Pages with 6 entries#SKUNK
Kashubian
Etymology
Borrowed from EnglishCategory:Kashubian terms borrowed from English#SKUNKCategory:Kashubian terms derived from English#SKUNK skunk.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈskɔ̃k/Category:Kashubian terms with IPA pronunciation#SKUNK
- Rhymes: -ɔ̃kCategory:Rhymes:Kashubian/ɔ̃k#SKUNKCategory:Rhymes:Kashubian/ɔ̃k/1 syllable#SKUNK
- Syllabification: skunk
Noun
skunk m animal (female equivalent szkùnka)Category:Kashubian lemmas#SKUNKCategory:Kashubian nouns#SKUNKCategory:Kashubian entries with incorrect language header#SKUNKCategory:Kashubian masculine nouns#SKUNKCategory:Kashubian animal nouns#SKUNKCategory:Pages with entries#SKUNKCategory:Pages with 6 entries#SKUNK
- (CanadaCategory:Canada Kashubian#SKUNK, United StatesCategory:United States Kashubian#SKUNK) skunk
Further reading
- Stanislow Frymark (2020), “skunk”, in Kashubian Language in Canada, the USA and New Zealand; Lexical Interferences in Kashubian Language in Canada, the USA and New Zealand, Zómk Zôbòrsczi, →ISBN
Swedish
Etymology
Borrowed from EnglishCategory:Swedish terms borrowed from English#SKUNKCategory:Swedish terms derived from English#SKUNK skunk.
Pronunciation
Noun
skunk cCategory:Swedish lemmas#SKUNKCategory:Swedish nouns#SKUNKCategory:Swedish entries with incorrect language header#SKUNKCategory:Swedish common-gender nouns#SKUNKCategory:Pages with entries#SKUNKCategory:Pages with 6 entries#SKUNK
Declension
| nominative | genitive | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | indefinite | skunk | skunks |
| definite | skunken | skunkens | |
| plural | indefinite | skunkar | skunkars |
| definite | skunkarna | skunkarnas |
References
- “skunk”, in Svensk ordbok [Dictionary of Swedish] (in Swedish)
- “skunk”, in Svenska Akademiens ordlista [Wordlist of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
- “skunk”, in Svenska Akademiens ordbok [Dictionary of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)