skank
To dance the skankTo dance the skank.
» She's a total skank.
Meaning
5 sensesTo dance the skank.
dance the skank
To play guitar with a skank rhythm.
(Jamaica, intransitive, transitive)To be dishonest or unreliable, to defraud or deceive, to steal.
(transitive)To cheat or betray, especially a friend.
He short-changed a partner, leaving him feeling skanked.
(transitive)To steal, or otherwise acquire underhandedly.
Examples
2 sentencesShe's a total skank.
Mary is a skank.
Origin
Originally Jamaican, attested from the twentieth century, but earliest source is uncertainOriginally Jamaican, attested from the twentieth century, but earliest source is uncertain. The verb sense be dishonest is evidently older. Perhaps originally onomatopoeic. The dance senses may come from a resemblance to motorcyclists weaving between larger vehicles. Compare skanker.
Slang word used in Northern England. Unknown. Perhaps from etymology 2, above; attested in West Indian and UK black slang from the twentieth century.
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Forms
skanks, skanking, skanked, skankedWord family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle