Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Funk?

\Funk\, n. [OE. funke a little fire; akin to Prov. E. funk touchwood, G. funke spark, and perh. to Goth. f?n fire.] An offensive smell; a stench. [Low]
\Funk\, v. t. To envelop with an offensive smell or smoke. [Obs.] --King.
\Funk\, v. i. 1. To emit an offensive smell; to stink. 2. To be frightened, and shrink back; to flinch; as, to funk at the edge of a precipice. [Colloq.] --C. Kingsley. {To funk out}, to back out in a cowardly fashion. [Colloq.] To funk right out o' political strife. --Lowell (Biglow Papers).
\Funk\, Funking \Funk"ing\, n. A shrinking back through fear. [Colloq.] ``The horrid panic, or funk (as the men of Eton call it).'' --De Quincey.
\Funk\, n. One who funks; a shirk; a coward. [Colloq.]
\Funk\, v. t. 1. To funk at; to flinch at; to shrink from (a thing or person); as, to funk a task. [Colloq.] 2. To frighten; to cause to flinch. [Colloq.]