skunk
/skʌŋk/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.10 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Any of various mammals of the subfamily Mephitinae, native to North and Central America, having a glossy black coat with white markings and two musk glands at the base of the tail for emitting a noxious smell as a defensive measure.
American usage
noun
A walkover victory in sports or board games, as when the opposing side is unable to score.
American usage; Slang
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "In fact, the term he applied to this species of human being was "skunk," and he used it freely."
- "On the other hand, many critics contend that in terms of literary quality, many of the multiple-storyline books are true skunks."
- ""Yeah, Nolan tried to skunk me. Malcolm's making him clean up the pit right now,” said Simon, heading over to his dresser. “That explains the smell,” muttered the mouse. “You need a shower.”"
- ""While the two of them were having the time of their lives running around the park and doing whatever else they may have been doing, Walter must have been showing off for that poodle, and he got himself skunked." "Are you telling me as skunk sprayed him?""
- "Two girls help me to my feet, hug me, skunking me with perfume."
Etymology
Borrowed from an unattested Southern New England Eastern Algonquian word cognate with Abenaki segôgw (literally “he who squirts (musk) / urinates”), from Proto-Algonquian *šeka·kwa, from *šek- (“to urinate”). Doublet of Chicago.