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junk - 10 dictionary results
junk
1
[
juhngk] 
–noun
| 1. | any old or discarded material, as metal, paper, or rags. |
| 2. | anything that is regarded as worthless, meaningless, or contemptible; trash. |
| 3. | old cable or cordage used when untwisted for making gaskets, swabs, oakum, etc. |
| 4. | Nautical Slang. salt junk. |
| 5. | Baseball Slang. relatively slow, unorthodox pitches that are deceptive to the batter in movement or pace, as knuckleballs or forkballs. |
–verb (used with object)
| 6. | to cast aside as junk; discard as no longer of use; scrap. |
–adjective
| 7. | cheap, worthless, unwanted, or trashy. |
Origin:
1480–90; earlier jonke, of uncert. orig.
1480–90; earlier jonke, of uncert. orig.
Synonyms:
1, 2. rubbish, litter, debris, refuse.
1, 2. rubbish, litter, debris, refuse.
junk
2 [juhngk] –noun
| a seagoing ship with a traditional Chinese design and used primarily in Chinese waters, having square sails spread by battens, a high stern, and usually a flat bottom. |
Origin:
1545–55; < Pg junco a kind of sailing vessel < Malay jong, said to be < dial. Chin (Xiamen) chûn; cf. Guangdong dial. syùhn, Chin chuán
1545–55; < Pg junco a kind of sailing vessel < Malay jong, said to be < dial. Chin (Xiamen) chûn; cf. Guangdong dial. syùhn, Chin chuán
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To junk
| junk 1 (jŭngk) n.
To discard as useless or sell to be reused as parts; scrap. adj.
[Middle English jonk, an old cable or rope.] Word History: The word junk is an example of the change in meaning known as generalization, and very aptly too, since the amount of junk in the world seems to be generalizing and proliferating rapidly. The Middle English word jonk, ancestor of junk, originally had a very specific meaning restricted to nautical terminology. First recorded in 1353, the word meant "an old cable or rope." On a sailing ship it made little sense to throw away useful material since considerable time might pass before one could get new supplies. Old cable was used in a variety of ways, for example, to make fenders, that is, material hung over the side of the ship to protect it from scraping other ships or wharves. Junk came to refer to this old cable as well. The big leap in meaning taken by the word seems to have occurred when junk was applied to discarded but useful material in general. This extension may also have taken place in a nautical context, for the earliest, more generalized use of junk is found in the compound junk shop, referring to a store where old materials from ships were sold. Junk has gone on to mean useless waste as well. |
| junk 2 (jŭngk) n. A Chinese flatbottom ship with a high poop and battened sails. [Portuguese junco or Dutch jonk, both from Javanese djong, variant of djung, from Old Javanese jong, sea-going ship.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Junk
Junk\, n. A fragment of any solid substance; a thick piece. See Chunk. [Colloq.] --Lowell.Junk
Junk\, n. [Pg. junco junk, rush, L. juncus a bulrush, of which ropes were made in early ages. Cf. Junket.]1. Pieces of old cable or old cordage, used for making gaskets, mats, swabs, etc., and when picked to pieces, forming oakum for filling the seams of ships. 2. Old iron, or other metal, glass, paper, etc., bought and sold by junk dealers. 3. (Naut.) Hard salted beef supplied to ships. Junk bottle, a stout bottle made of thick dark-colored glass. Junk dealer, a dealer in old cordage, old metal, glass, etc. Junk hook (Whaling), a hook for hauling heavy pieces of blubber on deck. Junk ring. (a) A packing of soft material round the piston of a steam engine. (b) A metallic ring for retaining a piston packing in place; (c) A follower. Junk shop, a shop where old cordage, and ship's tackle, old iron, old bottles, old paper, etc., are kept for sale. Junk vat (Leather Manuf.), a large vat into which spent tan liquor or ooze is pumped. Junk wad (Mil.), a wad used in proving cannon; also used in firing hot shot.Junk
Junk\, n. [Pg. junco; cf. Jav. & Malay jong, ajong, Chin. chwan.] (Naut.) A large vessel, without keel or prominent stem, and with huge masts in one piece, used by the Chinese, Japanese, Siamese, Malays, etc., in navigating their waters.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : junk
Spanish:
trastos,
German:
der Trödel; Trödel…,
Japanese:
がらくた
junk (1)
"worthless stuff," 1338, junke "old cable or rope" (nautical), of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.Fr. junc "rush," from L. juncus "rush, reed." Nautical use extended to "old refuse from boats and ships" (1842), then to "old or discarded articles of any kind" (1884). The verb meaning "to throw away as trash, to scrap" is from 1916. Junkie "drug addict" is attested from 1923, but junk for "narcotic" is said to be older. Junk food is from 1973; junk art is from 1966; junk mail first attested 1954.
junk (2)
"Chinese sailing ship," 1613, from Port. junco, from Malay jong "ship, large boat" (13c.), probably from Javanese djong.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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