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Where does the word "dank" come from? It comes from Scandinavian dank, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).
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Where does the word "dank" come from? It comes from Scandinavian dank, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).
Dank’s story begins in Scandinavian: dank meant “marsh.” Probably Norse; Swedish dialect 'dank' means a marshy spot. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as danke. Wet, damp. It reached English by 1500s as dank. Its modern slang sense of 'excellent' comes from 2010s internet use. Today, dank means unpleasantly damp and cold.
- Stage 1 · Scandinavian · medieval dank "marsh", probably Norse; Swedish dialect 'dank' means a marshy spot.
- Stage 2 · Middle English · 1300s danke "damp", wet, damp.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s dank "damp and cold", its modern slang sense of 'excellent' comes from 2010s internet use.