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Skunk vs Skank - What's the difference?

skunk | skank |

As nouns the difference between skunk and skank

is that skunk is any of various small mammals, of the family Mephitidae, native to North and Central America, having a glossy black with a white coat and two musk glands at the base of the tail for emitting a noxious smell as a defensive measure while skank is any substance that is particularly foul, unhygienic or unpleasant.

As verbs the difference between skunk and skank

is that skunk is to defeat so badly as to prevent any opposing points while skank is to dance the skank.

skunk

English

(wikipedia skunk)

Etymology 1

At first spelt squunck, from the (etyl) name for the animal, .

Noun

(en noun)
  • Any of various small mammals, of the family Mephitidae, native to North and Central America, having a glossy black with a white coat and two musk glands at the base of the tail for emitting a noxious smell as a defensive measure.
  • (slang) A despicable person.
  • (slang) A walkover victory in sports or board games, as when the opposing side is unable to score. Compare shutout.
  • (cribbage) A win by 30 or more points.
    • Derived terms
    * drunk as a skunk * skunky

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To defeat so badly as to prevent any opposing points.
    • I skunked him at cards.
    We fished all day but the lake skunked us.
  • (cribbage) To win by 30 or more points.
  • to go bad, to spoil

    • See also

    * Mephitidae * Mephitis * * * polecat

    Etymology 2

    , influenced by the animal (Etymology 1).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A member of a hybrid skinhead and punk subculture.
  • * 2006 , Pam Nilan, Carles Feixa, Global Youth?: Hybrid Identities, Plural Worlds (page 192)
    • In the early 1980s, certain ex-punks joined them, becoming 'skunks' – a hybrid subculture of skinheads and punks.
  • * 2011 , Gerard DeGroot (quoting Brown), Seventies Unplugged

    • Etymology 3

    From

    Noun

  • (slang) (marijuana).
  • Any of the strains of hybrids of Cannabis sativa'' and ''Cannabis indica that may have THC levels exceeding those of typical hashish.
    • ----

    skank

    English

    Etymology 1

    .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any substance that is particularly foul, unhygienic or unpleasant.

    • Etymology 2

    . Middle English, meaning frolicsome and often lascivious conduct.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (pejorative, slang) A lewdly unattractive and disreputable person, often female, especially one with an air of tawdry promiscuity.
  • *
  • * '>citation
    • Synonyms
    * See

    Etymology 3

    Jamaican origin

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A dance performed to ska.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To dance the skank
    • Come on, skank along, it's the skanking song.

    Etymology 4

    Slang word used in Northern England (commonly used through the 1980s).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of cheating a person.
    • That's not a good deal; it's a skank .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cheat, especially a friend.
    • ''He shortchanged a partner, leaving him feeling skanked .
    Derived terms
    * skanker * skanky Jamaican English ----