spunk Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun material for starting a fire
punk; kindling; touchwood; tinder.
noun the courage to carry on
heart; mettle; nerve.
- he kept fighting on pure spunk
- you haven't got the heart for baseball

Gael. spong, or Ir. sponc, tinder, sponge; cf. AS. sponge a sponge (L. spongia), sp&omac;n a chip. Cf. Sponge, Punk.

Wood that readily takes fire; touchwood; also, a kind of tinder made from a species of fungus; punk; amadou. Sir T. Browne.
An inflammable temper; spirit; mettle; pluck; as, a man of spunk. Colloq.
A lawless and dangerous set, men of spunk, and spirit, and power, both of mind and body. Prof. Wilson.