Where does “punk” come from?

punk (French) comes from English punk, from Unami punkw, from Proto-Algonquian penkwi, from Proto-Algic penekwe — powder.

punk (French): punk

Definitions

  1. punk

Ancestry of “punk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpunkA person used for sex, particularly; A worthless...
2Unamipunkwashes; dust; powder
3Proto-Algonquianpenkwidust, ash
4Proto-Algicpenekwepowder
Every word from Proto-Algic penekwe →