adj
Meaning 1
Lewd, vulgar, skanky.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
skank
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/ˈskæŋk/ without æ-raising
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[ˈskæŋk] without æ-raising
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Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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Canada, US: /ˈskeɪ̯ŋk/
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Canada, US: [ˈskeɪ̯ŋk]
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Canada, US: /ˈskɛ̃ŋk/
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Canada, US: [ˈskɛ̃ŋk]
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -æŋk
adj
Meaning 2
Foul, unhygienic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A lewd and disreputable person, often female, especially an unattractive person with an air of tawdry promiscuity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
Anything that is particularly foul, unhygienic or unpleasant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
A dance performed to ska, dub, or reggae music.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
A style of rhythmic guitar strumming in ska, reggae, and punk.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
Examples
- A typical skank guitar rhythm: {\time3/4\tempo4=180\set Staff.midiInstrument=#"electric guitar (muted)"\repeat unfold2{r8a4}\repeat unfold2{r8g4
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 7
The act of cheating a person.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- That's not a good deal; it's a skank.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
To dance the skank.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 9
To play guitar with a skank rhythm.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 10
To be dishonest or unreliable, to defraud or deceive, to steal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Jamaica, intransitive, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 11
To cheat or betray, especially a friend.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- He short-changed a partner, leaving him feeling skanked.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 12
To steal, or otherwise acquire underhandedly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 13
a rhythmic dance to reggae music performed by bending forward and extending the hands while bending the knees
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: dancing, dance, terpsichore, saltation
noun
Meaning 14
any substance considered disgustingly foul or unpleasant
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: filth, crud
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: waste, waste material, waste matter, waste product
verb
Meaning 15
dance the skank
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe
History
Etymology
Unknown. Perhaps from skag (“unattractive woman”), but the origins of skag are unknown. Compare scold (“troublesome woman”), skeevy (“disgusting”). Attested from the 1960s.
Originally Jamaican, attested from the twentieth century, but earliest source is uncertain. The verb sense be dishonest is evidently older. Perhaps originally onomatopoeic. The dance senses may come from a resemblance to motorcyclists weaving between larger vehicles. Compare skanker.
Slang word used in Northern England. Unknown. Perhaps from etymology 2, above; attested in West Indian and UK black slang from the twentieth century.
Across languages
Translations
7 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- German: Schlampe — unattractive female with an air of promiscuity
- German: Schnalle — unattractive female with an air of promiscuity
- Russian: шмара (šmara) — unattractive female with an air of promiscuity
- Russian: курва (kurva) — unattractive female with an air of promiscuity
- Russian: давалка (davalka) — unattractive female with an air of promiscuity
- Swedish: slyna — unattractive female with an air of promiscuity
- Swedish: slampa — unattractive female with an air of promiscuity