7 October 2015
punk (1)
[puhngk]
noun
1. any prepared substance, usually in stick form, that will smolder and can be used to light fireworks, fuses, etc.
2. dry, decayed wood that can be used as tinder.
3. conk (3).
4. a spongy substance derived from fungi; amadou; touchwood.
Origin of punk (1)
1680-16901680-90, Americanism; origin uncertain
punk (2)
[puhngk]
noun
1. Slang.
something or someone worthless or unimportant.
a young ruffian; hoodlum.
an inexperienced youth.
a young male partner of a homosexual.
an apprentice, especially in the building trades.
Prison Slang. a boy.
2. punk rock.
3. a style or movement characterized by the adoption of aggressively unconventional and often bizarre or shocking clothing, hairstyles, makeup, etc., and the defiance of social norms of behavior, usually associated with punk rock musicians and fans.
4. a punker.
5. Archaic. a prostitute.
adjective
6. Informal. poor in quality or condition.
7. of, relating to, or characteristic of punk rock :
a punk band.
8. pertaining to, characteristic of, or adopting punk styles:
punk youths; punk hairstyles in various colors.
Origin
1590-1600; of obscure origin; the sense development is apparently “prostitute” > “catamite” > “hoodlum”; the adj. “poor in quality” (1896) is unclearly derived and perhaps a distinct word
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for punk
Contemporary Examples
She was the Kathleen Hanna of Hollywood—a punk rock princess in a Barbie world.
Lori Petty on ‘Orange Is the New Black,’ the Halcyon ‘90s, and Discovering Jennifer Lawrence
Marlow Stern
June 7, 2014
Surfing, skating, punk rock—these were all very antisocial and rebellious at their births, but are now billion dollar industries.
U.S. Open of Surfing Turns Into Riot
Mark Lukach
July 30, 2013
The recently-engaged Miley Cyrus has added another line to her resume: punk.
Miley’s Punk New Haircut!
Isabel Wilkinson
August 12, 2012
Today’s quote
Stupidity is a talent for misconception.
– Edgar Allan Poe
On this day
7 October 1849 – death of Edgar Allan Poe, American poet and novelist, The Raven. Born 19 January 1809.
7 October 1913 – Henry Ford implements the moving assembly line … changing the face of manufacturing forever.
7 October 1931 – birth of Desmond Tutu, Anglican Archbishop of South Africa. Won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.
7 October 2001 – United States invades Afghanistan as they hunt for Osama Bin Laden and to take down the Taliban government for allowing him to live there. It was nearly 10 years later, in 2011, that US Special Forces captured and killed Bin Laden in Pakistan.