Peter Funk
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A shill bidder at an auction.
Register: archaic, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
While some stories about mock auctions asked readers to examine their own greed, others identified mock auctioneers and Peter Funks as scapegoats who took the blame for bad behavior in the market.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
an American term for a spurious auction or "knock-out."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Peter Funk” mean?
A shill bidder at an auction.
Is “Peter Funk” formal or informal?
Peter Funk is generally archaic, slang.