Where does “skank” come from?

skank (Norwegian Bokmål) comes from Old Norse skankr, from Proto-Germanic skankô, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kenǵ- — to limp.

skank (Norwegian Bokmål): the lower part of an animal's forelimb or hindlimb, extending from the knee towards the foot; the shank

Definitions

  1. the lower part of an animal's forelimb or hindlimb, extending from the knee towards the foot; the shank

Ancestry of “skank”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseskankr—
2Proto-Germanicskankôthat which is bent; shank; thigh
3Proto-Indo-European(s)kenǵ-to limp
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kenǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skankô →Every word from Old Norse skankr →
skank — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer