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Fright vs Funk - What's the difference?

fright | funk |

As nouns the difference between fright and funk

is that fright is a state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm while funk is spark.

As verbs the difference between fright and funk

is that fright is to frighten while funk is to shrink from, or avoid something because of fear.

fright

English

Noun

(wikipedia fright)
  • A state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm.
  • * 1994 , (Stephen Fry), (The Hippopotamus) Chapter 2:
    • With a bolt of fright he remembered that there was no bathroom in the Hobhouse Room. He leapt along the corridor in a panic, stopping by the long-case clock at the end where he flattened himself against the wall.
  • Anything strange, ugly or shocking, producing a feeling of alarm or aversion.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I:
    • Her maids were old, and if she took a new one,
    You might be sure she was a perfect fright ;
    She did this during even her husband's life
    I recommend as much to every wife.

    Derived terms

    * fright wig

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) to frighten

    • funk

    English

    (wikipedia funk)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) funke, . More at (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) spark
  • (obsolete) touchwood, punk, tinder

    • Etymology 2

    1743, Scottish and Northern English dialectal word, originally a verb meaning "to panic, fail due to panic". Perhaps from or cognate with obsolete (etyl) . More at (l).

    Noun

  • (countable) mental depression
  • (uncountable) A state of fear or panic, especially cowardly
  • * Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
    • [The helmsman] steered with no end of a swagger while you were by; but if he lost sight of you, he became instantly the prey of an abject funk

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shrink from, or avoid something because of fear

    • Etymology 3

    1620, from (etyl) dialectal (Norman) funquer, . More at (l).

    Noun

  • (countable) Foul or unpleasant smell, especially body odour.
  • (rft-sense) (uncountable) Music that combines traditional forms of black music (as blues, gospel, or soul) and is characterized by a strong backbeat.
    • Derived terms
    * electrofunk * funky

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To emit an offensive smell; to stink.
  • To envelop with an offensive smell or smoke.
    • (King)
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