tonk

[ tongk ]

noun

1. a form of rummy for two or more players with deuces wild.

tonk

¹

/ tɒŋk /

noun

1. slang.
   an effete or effeminate man

tonk

²

/ tɒŋk /

verb

1. informal.
   to strike with a heavy blow

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonk¹

1920–25; compare British, Australian tonk (informal) to strike, beat, defeat

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonk¹

C20: origin unknown

Origin of tonk²

C20: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

“But I was. I was sometimes too grown up as a kid; I would fix the rum and Cokes, play tonk or 500 or rummy.”

From Washington Post

He was beaten legendary guitarist and Manchester City fan Johnny Marr, who was spot on when he backed City to 'tonk' United in Sunday's Manchester derby, and almost got the score exactly right too when he went for a 4-0 win - City won 4-1.

From BBC

His lawyer simultaneously defended the agent and unwittingly supported racist accusations against the agency by saying “tonk,” which has various interpretations, “is commonplace throughout the Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector, that it is part of the agency’s culture.”

From Washington Post

His lawyer simultaneously defended the agent and unwittingly supported racist accusations against the agency by saying “tonk,” which has various interpretations, “is commonplace throughout the Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector, that it is part of the agency’s culture.”

From Seattle Times

Did you guys come up playing Tonk?

From Salon