释义 |
hunks, n.|hʌŋks| Also hunx. [Known soon after 1600; but not in Dicts. before Kersey's ed. of Phillips, 1706. Origin unknown: it has the appearance of a quasi proper name of nickname, like Old Grumbles, Bags, Boots, and the like. (An Icel. hunskur cited by Lye is imaginary.)] A term of obloquy for a surly, crusty, cross-grained old person, a ‘bear’; now, usually, a close-fisted, stingy man; a miser. (Generally with close, covetous, niggardly, or other uncomplimentary epithet.)
1602Dekker Satirom. Wks. 1873 I. 201 Blun. Come you shall shake ― Tucca. Not handes with great Hunkes there, not hands. a1627Middleton No Wit, no Help v. ii, Now is Mercury going into the second house near unto Ursa Major, that great hunks. a1634Randolph Muses' Looking-Glass ii. iv, 'Twas to blind the eyes of the old huncks. c1650R. Brathwait Barnabees Jrnl. ii. (1818) 71 There the beares were come to town-a: Two rude hunks, 'tis troth I tell ye. 1676Wycherley Pl. Dealer v. ii, [He] makes a very pretty show in the World, let me tell you; nay, a better than your close Hunks. 1681Dryden Sp. Friar i. ii, A jealous. covetous, old hunks. 1706Phillips (ed. Kersey), Hunks, as a meer Hunks, i.e. a base, covetous Wretch, a pitiful, niggardly Fellow. 1728Young Love Fame iv. 224 The veriest Hunks in Lombard-street. c1730Royal Remarks 2 The Antediluvian Gentry, or the old Hunxes their Descendants. 1756Earl of Orrery in Connoisseur No. 129 ⁋2 They all think me a close old hunks. 1821Lamb Elia Ser. i. Old Benchers I.T., C. was a close hunks—a hoarder rather than a miser. 1831E. J. Trelawny Adv. Younger Son I. 53 To say nothing to the old hunkses about the past. 1857Kingsley Two Y. Ago III. 190 One fellow comes and borrows my money, and goes out and calls me a stingy old hunks because I won't let him cheat me. |