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PUNK
bum, cheap, cheesy, chintzy, crummy, punk, sleazy, tinny
(adjective) of very poor quality; flimsy
hood, hoodlum, goon, punk, thug, tough, toughie, strong-armer
(noun) an aggressive and violent young criminal
kindling, tinder, touchwood, spunk, punk
(noun) material for starting a fire
punk
(noun) substance that smolders when ignited; used to light fuses (especially fireworks)
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Noun
punk (countable and uncountable, plural punks)
(countable) A person used for sex, particularly
(now historical & rare) synonym of prostitute: a person paid for sex. [1575]
(LGBT, obsolete) synonym of catamite: a boy or younger man used by an older as a (usually passive) homosexual partner. [1698]
(chiefly US, LGBT) synonym of bottom: any passive or effeminate homosexual male.
(US, LGBT, slang) A boy who accompanies a hobo, especially as used for sex. [1893]
(US, LGBT, pejorative, now chiefly African-American Vernacular) synonym of faggot: any male homosexual. [1933]
(US, LGBT, prison slang) synonym of bitch: a man forced or coerced into a homosexual relationship, especially in prison. [1946]
(countable, US slang) A worthless person, particularly: [1904]
(jocular, rare) synonym of fellow: any person, especially a male comrade. [1904]
(pejorative) A petty criminal, especially a juvenile delinquent. [1908]
(pejorative) synonym of sissy: a weak, timid person. [1939]
synonym of amateur. [1923]
(circus slang) A young, untrained animal or worker. [1926]
(uncountable, music genre) Short for punk rock, a genre known for short, loud, energetic songs with electric guitars and strong drums. [1970]
(countable) Short for punk rocker, a musician known for playing punk rock or a fan of the genre. [1976]
(uncountable) The larger nonconformist social movement associated with punk rock and its fans.
Usage notes
In its sense as a punk rocker, sometimes given the informal plural form punx.
Synonyms
• (male homosexual senses): See male homosexual
• (hobo's boy companion): gunsel
• (juvenile delinquent): trouble-maker, hoodlum, hooligan
Adjective
punk (comparative punker, superlative punkest)
(US, colloquial) Worthless, contemptible, particularly [1907]
Bad, substandard.
Thuggish, criminal.
(chiefly African-American Vernacular) Cowardly. [1930]
Poorly, sickly.
Inexperienced.
Of or concerning punk rock or its associated subculture. [1971]
Verb
punk (third-person singular simple present punks, present participle punking, simple past and past participle punked)
To pimp.
To forcibly perform anal sex upon an unwilling partner.
To prank.
(especially with "out") To give up or concede; to act like a wimp.
(often with "out" or "up") To adapt or embellish in the style of the punk movement.
Usage notes
The relatively tame 21st century usage of punk to mean "prank" was popularized by the American television show Punk'd. Until as recently as the late 20th century, punk still connoted rape or submitting to anal rape (punk out). The second use of the term punk-out is now comparable to acting like a pussy and mildly implies submissive behavior in general.
Synonyms
• (to pimp): hustle, prostitute; see also pimp out
Etymology 2
Noun
punk (countable and uncountable, plural punks)
(uncountable) Any material used as tinder for lighting fires, such as agaric, dried wood, or touchwood, but especially wood altered by certain fungi.
(countable) A utensil for lighting wicks or fuses (such as those of fireworks) resembling stick incense.
Source: Wiktionary
Punk, n. Etym: [Cf. Spunk.]
1. Wood so decayed as to be dry, crumbly, and useful for tinder; touchwood.
2. A fungus (Polyporus fomentarius, etc.) sometimes dried for tinder; agaric.
3. An artificial tinder. See Amadou, and Spunk.
4. A prostitute; a strumpet. [Obsoles.] Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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