Back to all words

Skunk

2 stages from Massachusett to English.

Today it means a small mammal known for spraying a foul-smelling liquid when threatened
1
Stage 1 of 2
squunck
Massachusett · pre-1600s
"the striped, foul-smelling mammal"
literally "one who urinates", describing its scent gland
2
Stage 2 of 2
skunk
English · 1600s
"the black-and-white striped mammal"
adopted by English colonists in New England
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom