skunk Hear it!

skunk definition

☆ skunk (skuŋk)

noun pl. skunks or skunk

    1. any of several bushy-tailed carnivores (family Mustelidae) of the New World, about the size of a house cat: it has glossy black fur, usually with white stripes or spots down the back, and ejects a foul-smelling, musky liquid when disturbed or frightened
    2. its fur
  2. Informal a despicable, offensive person

Etymology: < New England Algonquian cognate of Abenaki segôgw

transitive verb

Slang to defeat overwhelmingly in a game or contest; often, specif., to keep from scoring any points

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.