"depression, ill-humor," 1743, probably originally Scottish and northern English; earlier as a verb, "panic, fail through panic," (1737), said to be 17c. Oxford University slang, perhaps from Flemish fonck "perturbation, agitation, distress," possibly related to Old French funicle "wild, mad."
Funk (fŭngk, fōōngk), Casimir. 1884-1967.
Polish-born American biochemist whose research of deficiency diseases led to the discovery of vitamins, which he named in 1912.
Depression; moroseness; the BLUES: This levelheaded man of logic, however, is also a creature of moods and funks/ You guys are in a funk (1743+)
verbTo fail through panic; be frightened to immobility •Chiefly British: She would have won, but suddenly funked (1737+)
Related Terms[perhaps fr Flemish fonck, ''perturbation'']
A style of urban lack musi that relies heavily on bass guitar and exhibits elements like African rhythms, the blues, early rock and roll, jazz, etc: There is no denying the influence of Instant Funk/ the Minister of Super Heavy Funk, the legendary James Brown/ He is New Orleans ''fonk''
verbTo play or move to an urban lack musi that features a dominant bass guitar: I think it's all right to funk all night
[1950s+ Musicians; fr funky]
rhythm-driven musical genre popular in the 1970s and early 1980s that linked soul to later African-American musical styles. Like many words emanating from the African-American oral tradition, funk defies literal definition, for its usage varies with circumstance. As a slang term, funky is used to describe one's odour, unpredictable style, or attitude. Musically, funk refers to a style of aggressive urban dance music driven by hard syncopated bass lines and drumbeats and accented by any number of instruments involved in rhythmic counterplay, all working toward a "groove."