I. ˈfəŋk noun
Etymology: probably ultimately from French dialect (Picard) funquer to give off smoke
Date: 1623
: a strong offensive smell
II.
Date: circa 1739
intransitive verb
: to become frightened and shrink back
transitive verb
1. : to be afraid of : dread
2. : to shrink from undertaking or facing
III. noun
Etymology: perhaps from obsolete Dutch dialect (Flanders) fonck
Date: 1743
1.
a. : a state of paralyzing fear
b. : a depressed state of mind
2. : one that funks : coward
3. : slump 1
an economic funk
the team went into a funk
IV. noun
Etymology: back-formation from funky (II)
Date: 1959
1. : music that combines traditional forms of black music (as blues, gospel, or soul) and is characterized by a strong backbeat
2. : the quality or state of being funky
jeans…have lost much of their funk — Tom Wolfe