funk
UK: fʌŋk | US: fʌŋk
n. 1. A strong, unpleasant smell; musty odor.
n. 2. A state of depression or fear (colloquial).
n. 3. A genre of music blending jazz, soul, and rhythm and blues.
vi. 1. To panic or shrink back in fear (archaic).
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The word "funk" has a complex history. Its earliest sense (16th c.) referred to a musty smell, likely derived from the Old French funkier (to smoke) or Latin fumus (smoke). By the 18th c., it evolved to mean "panic" or "fear," possibly influenced by the stifling sensation of smoke. In the 20th c., African American musicians repurposed "funk" to describe bold, earthy music—embracing raw authenticity, much like the word’s earlier visceral connotations.
The basement had a damp funk of mildew.
He was in a funk after losing the competition.
James Brown pioneered the funk genre in the 1960s.
She funked at the last moment and canceled the speech.
The band’s new album blends jazz and funk seamlessly.