to funk

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

To use an unfair motion of the hand in plumping at taw. SCHOOLBOY'S TERM.

Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “to funk” mean?

To use an unfair motion of the hand in plumping at taw. SCHOOLBOY'S TERM.

Is “to funk” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.