spunk

Meanings

Noun

• A spark.
• Touchwood; tinder.
• A piece of tinder, sometimes impregnated with sulphur; a match.
• Courage; spirit; mettle; determination.
• An attractive person (normally male).
• Semen.

Verb

• To catch fire; flame up.
• To ejaculate.
• To waste (money etc.).

Origin

• 1530, . Also, merging with spunck, 1582, ultimately from Old Irish sponc, from Latin spongia.
• funk is from Middle English funke, fonke, from Old English *funce ("spark"), *fanca, from Proto-Germanic *funkô, *fankô, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peng-, *(s)pheng-, and is akin to Middle Low German funke, fanke, Middle Dutch vonke ("spark"), Old High German funcho, funko, German Funke ("spark").