Funk (?), n. [OE. funke a little
fire; akin to Prov. E. funk touchwood, G. funke spark,
and perh. to Goth. f?n fire.] An offensive smell; a
stench. [Low]
Funk, v. t. 1. To
funk at; to flinch at; to shrink from (a thing or person); as, to
funk a task. [Colloq.]
2. To frighten; to cause to flinch.
[Colloq.]
Funk (?), n. One who funks; a
shirk; a coward. [Colloq.]
Funk, v. t. To envelop with an
offensive smell or smoke. [Obs.] King.
Funk, v. i. 1. To
emit an offensive smell; to stink.
2. To be frightened, and shrink back; to
flinch; as, to funk at the edge of a precipice. [Colloq.]
C. Kingsley.
To funk out, to back out in a cowardly
fashion. [Colloq.]
To funk right out o' political
strife.
Lowell (Biglow Papers).{ Funk, Funk"ing, } n. A
shrinking back through fear. [Colloq.] "The horrid panic, or
funk (as the men of Eton call it)." De Quincey.