skunk

[ skuhngk ]

noun

, plural skunks, (especially collectively) skunk.

1. a small North American mammal, Mephitis mephitis, of the weasel family, having a black coat with a white, V -shaped stripe on the back, and ejecting a fetid odor when alarmed or attacked.
2. any of several related or similar animals. Compare hog-nosed skunk, spotted skunk.
3. Informal. a thoroughly contemptible person.
4. U.S. Navy Slang. an unidentified ship or target.

verb (used with object)

1. Slang. to defeat thoroughly in a game, especially while keeping an opponent from scoring:

   The team skunked the favorites in the crucial game.

skunk

/ skʌŋk /

noun

1. any of various American musteline mammals of the subfamily Mephitinae, esp Mephitis mephitis ( striped skunk ), typically having a black and white coat and bushy tail: they eject an unpleasant-smelling fluid from the anal gland when attacked
2. informal.
   a despicable person
3. slang.
   a strain of cannabis smoked for its exceptionally powerful psychoactive properties

verb

1. slang.
   tr to defeat overwhelmingly in a game

Word History and Origins

Origin of skunk¹

1625–35, Americanism; < the Massachusett reflex of Proto-Algonquian *šeka·kwa (derivative of *šek- urinate + -a·kw fox, foxlike animal

Word History and Origins

Origin of skunk¹

C17: from Algonquian; compare Abnaki segākw skunk

Example Sentences

Welcome to Florida, where a skunk ape sighting is just one of a host of crazy events that defined life in the Sunshine State during the 1970s.

From Ozy

Dave Shealy claims to have seen the ever-elusive skunk ape of Florida legend in 1974.

From Ozy

The skunk ape also, apparently, prefers hanging out in trees to lumbering around on the ground.

From Ozy

It smells like skunk, it’s the most pungent thing in the universe.

From Popular-Science

Despite all the jokes I made about turning into Cruella de Vil or the Bride of Frankenstein, seeing other women’s skunk stripes made mine feel a little less weird.

From Washington Post

The army met the stone-throwing with a fecal-smelling concoction called "skunk" and later with tear gas.

From The Daily Beast

So how did this proverbial skunk at the garden party obtain his tickets to the events?

From The Daily Beast

Sheppy had been having an argument with a skunk and there was strong reason—very strong—to suppose that he got the worst of it.

From Project Gutenberg

She saw the natural skunk coat she had been planning to give to poor dear Caroline for Christmas.

From Project Gutenberg

A fine male antelope was shot by Lieut. Swift, and a skunk was also the game of the day.

From Project Gutenberg

"A particular —— skunk," added another in sepulchral accents.

From Project Gutenberg

Ef it's that skunk, I'll spot him soon enough and let you know whar he's hiding.

From Project Gutenberg