I. ˈspəŋk noun
Etymology: Scottish Gaelic spong sponge, tinder, from Middle Irish spongc, from Latin spongia sponge
Date: 1582
1.
a. : a woody tinder : punk
b. : any of various fungi used to make tinder
2. : mettle , pluck
3. : spirit , liveliness
II. intransitive verb
Date: 1840
dialect : to show spirit — usually used with up