I. ˈskəŋk noun
( plural skunks also skunk )
Etymology: earlier squuncke, from a Massachusett reflex of Algonquian * šeka·kwa, from šek- urinate + -a·kw fox, fox-like animal
Date: 1634
1.
a. : any of various common omnivorous black-and-white New World mammals (especially genus Mephitis ) of the weasel family that have a pair of perineal glands from which a secretion of pungent and offensive odor is ejected
b. : the fur of a skunk
2. : an obnoxious or disliked person
[
skunk 1a
]
II. transitive verb
Date: 1843
1.
a. : defeat
b. : to prevent entirely from scoring or succeeding : shut out
2. : to fail to pay ; also : cheat