spunk
spunk Lexical Profile
spunk Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American Courage, spirit, determination, or mettle (used informally).
"The young entrepreneur showed plenty of spunk when pitching her business idea to the tough panel of investors."
Australian A sexually attractive or good-looking person (informal slang, also used in New Zealand).
"Everyone at the beach party thought the new lifeguard was an absolute spunk."
Scottish Touchwood, tinder, or a match for lighting a fire, or a small spark of fire.
"He struck a spunk to light the lantern inside the dark cabin."
• verb
British To spend or squander money or resources extravagantly and recklessly (informal slang).
"He spunked his entire inheritance on luxury cars within a single year."
To catch fire, flare up, or show spirit (usually used with 'up').
"The exhausted team began to spunk up in the final quarter of the game."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'spunk' is a wholesome informal term for courage and spirit in North America, in British English it is primarily vulgar slang for semen, and in Australian and New Zealand English it is informal slang for an attractive person.
• Rhymes for spunk
Word Origin & Etymology
Originated in the 16th century meaning 'a spark' or 'tinder', likely derived from Scottish Gaelic 'spong' (meaning tinder, pith, or sponge), ultimately from Latin 'spongia'.