spunkien.
/ˈspʌŋki/, U.S. /ˈspəŋki/, Scottish English /ˈspʌŋkɪ/ Scottish.in combination.a1869 C. Spence From Braes of Carse (1898) 139 The spunkie-haunted bog, Where sank the shepherd and his dog.
1. A will o' the wisp.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > light emitted under particular conditions > [noun] > phosphorescence > will-o'-the-wisp
fox-fire1483
foolish fire1563
ignis fatuus1563
fool's fire1583
Kit with the canstick or candlestick1584
going fire1596
will-o'-the-wisp1596
meteor1597
firedrake1607
wisp1618
ambulones1621
Dick-a-Tuesday1636
friar's lantern1645
gillian burnt-tail1654
Jill-burnt-tail1654
Jack-o'-lantern1658
fatuous fire1661
wildfire1663
wandering fire or light1667
Jack-a-Lent1680
fairy light1722
spunkie1727
Jill-o'-the-wisp1750
fen-fire1814
fatuus1820
marsh-light1823
feu follet1832
wisp-lighta1847
hob-lantern1847
ghost light1849
elf-fire1855
Peggy-with-her-lantern1855
fatuous light1857–8
marsh-fire1865
swamp fire1903
Min-Min1950
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > optical illusion > [noun] > an optical illusion > ignis fatuus
foolish fire1563
ignis fatuus1563
fool's fire1583
will-o'-the-wisp1596
night-fire1633
Dick-a-Tuesday1636
fatuous vapour1661
fatuus1668
draco volans1675
spunkie1727
fen-fire1814
fatuous fire1845
fatuous light1857–8
1727 P. Walker Some Remarkable Passages Semple, Welwood & Cameron 94 Some Willies with the Wisps, or Spunkies of Wild-fire.
1786 R. Burns Poems 59 An' aft your moss-traversing Spunkies Decoy the wight that late an' drunk is.
1816 W. Scott Black Dwarf ii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. I. 43 The scene of it had been avoided..by all human beings, as being the ordinary resort of kelpies, spunkies, and other demons.
1855 E. Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 75 The wily spunkie manœuvred so dexterously that the unhappy wanderer was speedily decoyed into the nearest morass.
1884 W. Sime To & Fro 170 The spunkie which showed the signal for freedom has disappeared.
2. Whisky or other spirituous drink. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > whisky > [noun]
usquebaugh1581
creature1638
corn-brandy1704
whisky1715
usque1728
spunkiea1796
skreigh1813
the stuff1828
snake poison1842
tanglefoot1860
whisky-straight1864
oil1869
Auld Kirk1884
snake juice1890
screech1902
scat1914
pinch bottle1916
screecham1923
juice1932
malt1967
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 221 Gie me just a true good fallow..And spunkie ance to make us mellow, And then we'll shine.
3.
a. A spirited, mettlesome, or courageous person; a smart or lively fellow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > vigorous or energetic person
pealerc1400
terrier1532
swinger1583
whipster1590
fireman1648
my (also me) hearty1735
whitherer1790
spunkie1806
vigorist1807
spunk1808
goer1811
smiter1823
hard hitter1831
blue hen's chicken (also chick)1859
stem-winder1875
vital force1886
live wire1896
towser1901
powerhouse1908
jazzer1912
the mind > emotion > courage > spirit > [noun] > one who is spirited
gamecock1653
fellow, man, etc., of (‥) spunk1774
spunkie1806
sass-box2015
1806 J. Nicol Poems I. 148 (Jam.) An' frae his bow, the shafts, fu' snack, Pierc'd monie a spunkie's liver.
1901 ‘G. Douglas’ House with Green Shutters 182 Logan..thought him a hardy young spunkie.
b. A fiery, hot-tempered, or irritable person.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > [noun] > irascible person
wasp1496
shit-fire1598
flesh-pistol1608
tinder-box1608
touchwood1617
Tartar1669
touch and go1675
spitfire1684
vengeance1712
spunkie1821
pepperbox1822
tempest1852
pepperer1864
gingersnap1889
pepperpot1894
spit-cat1898
spit kitten1912
slow burner1930
fireball1931
pop-off1938
1821 J. Galt Ann. Parish xxvi. 228 He was himself..a perfect spunkie of passion.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1727