spunk

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

Mettle; spirit; vivacity.--Brockett's Glossary. A colloquial word, considered in England extremely vulgar.

I admire your independent spirit, Doolittle. I like to have people think well of themselves. You have convinced me of your spunk. I am your friend.--D. Humphreys, The Yankee in England.

Related Words

Spunk
·noun An inflammable temper; spirit; mettle; pluck; as, a man of spunk. II. Spunk ·noun Wood that r...

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
spunk
Rotten touchwood, or a kind of fungus prepared for tinder; figuratively, spirit, courage. ...

Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
spunk
a dried fungus, used as tinder. Glouc. To go snacks, or snack it, to go shares, or partake. ...

A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
spunk
A fungus (Polyporus fomentarius and others) growing on the trunks of trees, from which tinder is mad...

The Sailor's Word-Book