different between skanker vs spanker

English

Etymology

skank +? -er

Noun

skanker (plural skankers)

1. Someone who dances the skank.
2. (Jamaican) A dishonest person, a dissolute person.

References

• “skanker n” in Richard Allsopp, Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage (1996).

English

Etymology

spank +? -er

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /spæ?k?/
• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /spæ?k?/
• Rhymes: -æ?k?(?)

Noun

spanker (plural spankers)

1. Someone who spanks.
2. An instrument used to give someone a spanking or spank, such as a paddle.
3. (nautical) A fore-and-aft gaff-rigged sail on the aft-most mast of a square-rigged vessel.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Totten to this entry?)

4. (dated, music) A musician who plays his instrument well.
5. (obsolete, Britain, dialect) A small coin.
   • 1772, The Town and Country Magazine (volume 4, page 344)

     Egad, Jack, I am glad to see you, for I want a few spankers.

6. (dated) One who takes long, quick strides in walking.
7. (dated) A swift horse.
8. (dated, slang) Something very large, or larger than usual; a whopper.
9. (dated, slang) Something splendid; a fine example of its kind.
   • 2015, Alan Bennett, The Lady in the Van

     I like the new vehicle. A real spanker. Not a mark on it. Particularly as regards the bodywork.

   • 2002, Catherine Cookson, The Silent Lady

     Well, you would say […] you didn't know what kind of carpet it was. It could be from Timbuktu or John O'Groats or anywhere else. But Dixon seems to know his stuff, and he said it's a spanker and that he would've had it himself, only it's too big for his front room.

Synonyms

• (gaff-rigged sail): blooper, tallboy

Derived terms

• plank spanker

Translations

Anagrams

• sparken