Funk /(fŭṉk)/

Funk

n.
  1. An offensive smell; a stench. [Low]
  2. One who funks; a shirk; a coward. [Colloq.]
  3. a state of fear.
  4. a mildly depressed state of mind; -- often used in the phrase blue funk.

Funk

n.
  1. an earthy, seemingly unsophisticated style of jazz music having elements of black American blues and gospel.

Funk

v. t.
  1. To envelop with an offensive smell or smoke. [Obs.]
  2. To funk at; to flinch at; to shrink from (a thing or person); as, to funk a task. [Colloq.]
  3. To frighten; to cause to flinch. [Colloq.]

Funk

v. i.
  1. To emit an offensive smell; to stink.
  2. To be frightened, and shrink back; to flinch; as, to funk at the edge of a precipice. [Colloq.]
    To funk right out o' political strife.
    — Lowell (Biglow Papers).

Phrases & Compounds

To funk out
to back out in a cowardly fashion.

Funk

n.
  1. A shrinking back through fear. [Colloq.]