When you say 'skunk' are you speaking Amerindian?

'Skunk' is a word borrowed from Amerindian 'segankw'. The word entered the English language some time around 1634.

skunk [noun] [1634]

• any of various common omnivorous black-and-white New World mammals (especially genus ) of the weasel family that have a...
• the fur of a skunk
• an obnoxious or disliked person

See 'skunk' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Amerindian.

Etymology: Earlier 'squuncke' from a Massachusett reflex of Algonquian '*šeka·kwa' from 'šek-' urinate + '-a·kw' fox, fox-like animal

See more loan words from 1600s.