Punk (or punquetto), subs. (old).—1. A harlot: see Tart: also as verb. = to procure. Hence, punker = a wencher; and punkish = meretricious.—B. E. (c.1696); Grose (1785).
c.1575. Old Ballad, 'Simon the King' [Farmer, Merry Songs and Ballads (1897), iii. 1]. Soe fellowes, if you be drunke, of ffrailtye itt is a sinne, as itt is to keepe a puncke.
1600. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, ii. 1. Marry, to his cockatrice, or punquetto, half a dozen taffata gowns or satin kirtles in a pair or two of months—why, they are nothing.
1603. Shakspeare, Measure for Measure, v. 1. She may be a punk, for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife.
1607. Dekker, Westward Hoe, ii. 2. The sewing-man [has] his punk, the student his nun in White-Friars. Ibid., iv. 1. Thou hast more tricks in thee than a punk has uncles, cousins, brothers, sons or fathers.
1611. Chapman, May-day, iv. 4. She was Some stale punk I warrant you.
1614. Jonson, Bartholomew Faire, ii. 1. Here you may have your punk and your pig both in state, sir, piping hot.
1620-55. Broadside Ballad [Roxburghe Coll. (Brit. Mus.), i. 46, 47]. A woman that will be drunk, Will eas'ly play the Punck.
1630. Taylor, Works, i. 110. His pimpship with his punke, despight the horne, Eate gosling giblets in a fort of corne.
1632. Massinger, City Madam, ii. 2. I'll wed a pedlar's punk first.
c.1650. Drunken Barnaby'c Jl. (1723), ii. 50. Hence to Dunchurch where report is Of pimps and punks a great resort is.
d.1655. Adams, Works [Nichols' 1861-2]. These punkish outsides beguile the needy traveller.
1670. Cotton, Scoffer Scofft [Works (1725), 249]. He is a very honest Younker, A bonny Lad, and a great Punker.
1672. Wycherley, Love in a Wood, ii. 1. Are you not a fireship, a punk, madam?
1687. Cleveland, Works. Among the roaring punks and dammy-boys.
1695. Congreve, Love for Love, i. 1. A worn-out punk . . . without a whole tatter to her tail.
1697. Vanbrugh, Provoked Wife, iii. 4. What, a pox! . . . two whores, egad! . . . Have you never a spare punk for your friend.
1706. Ward, Wooden World, 15. Some snotty-nosed Letter-man, the Product of some quondam Punk.
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 20. If you're not mad you must be drunk, To drub your gen'ral for a punk.
Verb. (cyclists').—2. To puncture a tyre: also, as subs. = a punctured tyre.
Punse, subs. (Yiddish).—The female
pudendum: see Monosyllable.
Punsh. See Punch, verb.
Punt, verb. (colloquial).—1. To
gamble: formerly generic, but
mostly confined to small or
'chicken' stakes. Hence, punter
= a gambler; punting-shop
= a hell.
17[?]. Pope, Basset Table. How often have I sworn . . . I could punt no more.
1714. Lucas, Gamesters, 230. Punter, a Term for everyone of the Gamesters that play.
1754. The World, No. 69. To cut in at whist, . . . to punt at faro, or to sit down at a hazard-table.
d.1817. Holman, Abroad and at Home, ii. 4. You who so kindly took me by the hand, taught me to punt at faro.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xxviii. A crowd of awestruck amateurs and breathless punters. Ibid., xxxvi. The idea . . . of his punting for half-crowns at a neighbouring hell in Air Street.
1886-96. Marshall, 'Pomes' ['Nobbled'], 114. There was only one horse in the Derby at which heavy punters would look.
