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Spunk vs Nerve - What's the difference?

spunk | nerve | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between spunk and nerve

is that spunk is a spark while nerve is a bundle of neurons with their connective tissue sheaths, blood vessels and lymphatics.

As verbs the difference between spunk and nerve

is that spunk is to ejaculate while nerve is to give courage; sometimes with "up".

spunk

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (countable, obsolete) A spark.
  • * 1886 , , 2009, page 109,
  • “That?s none such an entirely bad little man, yon little man with the red head,” said Alan. “He has some spunks of decency.”
  • (uncountable) Touchwood; tinder.
  • * 1646 , (Thomas Browne), Pseudodoxia Epidemica , II.5:
  • Spunk , or Touch-wood prepared, might perhaps make it Russet: and some, as Beringuccio affirmeth, have promised to make it Red.
  • (countable, chiefly, Scotland, obsolete) A piece of tinder, sometimes impregnated with sulphur; a match.
  • * 1829 , Society for Relief of the Destitute Sick (Edinburgh), Report , page 7,
  • At present, her only means of procuring subsistence for herself and children, is by making spunks or matches, which, either she or her eldest child, a girl about six years of age, sells from door to door.
  • * 1843 , John Wilson, John Gibson Lockhart, William Maginn, James Hogg, The Noctes Ambrosianæ of “Blackwood” , Volume IV, page 396,
  • Spunks' — '''spunks''' — '''spunks''' — who will buy my ' spunks ?” — cried an errant voice with a beseeching earnestness.
  • (uncountable) Courage; spirit; mettle; determination.
  • * 1920 August, Edward Leonard, Old Zeke?s Mule'', '' , 55,
  • “I reckon I?m as good as a mule,” he declared. “Maria knows what that desert is as well as we do, but she?s got more spunk' than either of us. I'm not going to let any mule show more ' spunk than me.”
  • * 1991 , Lindsey Hanks, (copyright Linda Chesnutt, Georgia Pierce), Long Texas Night , Zebra Books, US, page 26,
  • “You've got spunk', missy, I?ll have to say that for you. Maybe with your ' spunk and my good looks we can get this place in shape again.”
    It was Sarah?s turn to laugh.
  • *
  • (countable, UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) An attractive person (normally male).
  • * 2005 , Sue Austin, Women?s Aggressive Fantasies: A Post-Jungian Exploration of Self-Hatred, Love and Agency , Routledge, UK, page 166,
  • We are welcomed by 20 year old spunks , as we make a last valiant attempt with our bodies - gasp, gasp - and try to get back in shape.
  • (uncountable, chiefly, UK, vulgar, slang) Semen.
  • * 2007 , Debra Hyde, Kidnapped'', Violet Blue (editor), ''Lust: Erotic Fantasies for Women , 2010, ReadHowYouWant, page 188,
  • It was runny stuff and, as she felt Brain loosen his hold on the drawstrings, Cackle's spunk dripped onto the shelf of her chin.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (slang, vulgar) To ejaculate.
  • Anagrams

    *

    nerve

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (zoology) A bundle of neurons with their connective tissue sheaths, blood vessels and lymphatics.
  • The nerves can be seen through the skin.''
  • (nonstandard, colloquial) A neuron.
  • (botany) A vein in a leaf; a grain in wood
  • ''Some plants have ornamental value because of their contrasting nerves
  • Courage, boldness.
  • He hasn't the nerve to tell her he likes her, what a wimp!
  • * 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Jack Wilshere scores twice to ease Arsenal to victory over Marseille'' (in ''The Guardian , 26 November 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/26/arsenal-marseille-match-report-champions-league]
  • A trip to the whistling, fire-cracking Stadio San Paolo is always a test of nerve but Wenger's men have already outplayed the Italians once.
  • Patience. (rfexample)
  • Stamina, endurance, fortitude.
  • * Milton
  • He led me on to mightiest deeds, / Above the nerve of mortal arm.
  • Audacity, gall.
  • He had the nerve to enter my house uninvited.
  • *
  • (in the plural) Agitation caused by fear, stress or other negative emotion.
  • Ellie had a bad case of nerves before the big test.
  • (obsolete) Sinew, tendon.
  • * 1610 , , act 1 scene 2
  • Come on; obey: / Thy nerves are in their infancy again, / And have no vigour in them.
    (Alexander Pope)

    Synonyms

    ; Audacity, gall : brashness, brazenness, big balls

    Hyponyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * bundle of nerves * get on somebody's nerves/get on one's nerves * nervation * nerveless * nervy * nerve cell * nerve center * nerve ending * nerve fiber * nerve gas * nerve impulse * nerve-racking * nerves of steel * nerve-wracking * nervi-, nervo- * touch a nerve * unnerved * war of nerves

    Verb

    (nerv)
  • To give courage; sometimes with "up".
  • ''May their example nerve us to face the enemy.
  • To give strength
  • ''The liquor nerved up several of the men after their icy march.

    Anagrams

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