# Etymology of ''skank''

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-skank/67323>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 2, 2001, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-skank/67323 "2001-06-02T13:56:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-skank/67323/1 "2001-06-02T13:56:24Z")

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My slang dictionary defines **skank** as an undesirable or malodorous woman or a prostitute. Most slang dictionaries aren’t big on etymology, and standard dictionaries don’t define skank in this sense. I never gave it much thought until yesterday when I heard someone use “skonk” as a humorously unsophisticated pronunciation of **skunk**. Now I’m wondering if skank is derived from (or influenced by) skunk. The “malodorous” part seems to fit, anyway.

There’s also a verb skank meaning (among other things) “to steal”, and a Jamaican dance called skank (derived from “ska”?), but I’m not sure if they are in any way related.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-skank/67323/2 "2001-06-02T14:48:25Z")

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One theory I’ve heard is that it’s a corruption of `skink,' which is a kind of lizard. The skink will, if caught by the tail, detach itself from it and run away. So, a woman was called a `skink’ if she was known to `give up her tail.’

But take that, as with all etymology stories, _cum grano salis_.