Advertisement
Entries linking to junky
junk (n.1)
mid-14c., junke "old cable or rope," cut in bits and used for caulking, etc., a nautical word of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old French junc "rush, reed," also used figuratively as a type of something of little value, from Latin iuncus "rush, reed" (but OED finds "no evidence of connexion").
It was extended to "old refuse from boats and ships" (1660s), then to "old or discarded articles of any kind" (1884), usually with a suggestion of reusability. Meaning "salt meat used on long voyages" is from 1762. Meaning "narcotic drug" is from 1925. Junk food is from 1971; junk art is from 1961; junk mail first attested 1954; junk bond from 1979.
-y (2)adjective suffix, "full of or characterized by," from Old English -ig, from Proto-Germanic *-iga- (source also of Dutch, Danish, German -ig, Gothic -egs), from PIE -(i)ko-, adjectival suffix, cognate with elements in Greek -ikos, Latin -icus (see -ic). Originally added to nouns in Old English; used from 13c. with verbs, and by 15c. even with other adjectives (for example crispy).
Share junky
‘cite’
Page URL:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/junky
HTML Link:
<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/junky">Etymology of junky by etymonline</a>
APA style:
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of junky. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/junky
Chicago style:
Harper Douglas, “Etymology of junky,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/junky.
MLA style:
Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of junky.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/junky. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
IEEE style:
D. Harper. “Etymology of junky.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/junky (accessed $(datetime)).
updated on August 29, 2012
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of junky from WordNet