hunk etymology

Etymology:

The word "hunk" has two distinct etymologies:

  • Old Norse:
    • From the Middle English "honk", meaning "large piece" or "chunk".
    • Ultimately derived from the Old Norse "hǫgg", meaning "a blow" or "cut".
  • Yiddish:
    • From the Yiddish "hunk", meaning "a large piece" or "a hunk".
    • Possibly derived from the Slavic "kon", meaning "piece" or "morsel".

Meaning:

  • Literal meaning: A large piece or chunk of something, typically food or material.
  • Figurative meaning:
    • A physically attractive person, especially a man.
    • A piece of something desirable or valuable.

Origin:

  • The Old Norse etymology is thought to be the original source of the word, with the Yiddish etymology potentially being a loanword.
  • The figurative usage of "hunk" to refer to an attractive person likely originated in the 19th century.

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