Word-Built World: wonky

Illustration: Anu Garg

A.Word.A.Daywith Anu Garg

wonky

PRONUNCIATION:

(WONG-kee) 

MEANING:

adjective:
1. Unreliable; unsteady; not working properly.
2. Concerned with minute details in a field; nerdy.

ETYMOLOGY:

For 1: Of uncertain origin, perhaps from dialectal wanky, alteration of wankle, from Old English wancol (unsteady).Earliest documented use: 1919.
For 2: Of uncertain origin, perhaps related to the first term or the term wanky. Earliest documented use: 1978.

2 thoughts on “Word-Built World: wonky”

  1. I always thought wonk was the reverse spelling of “know” which somehow came out of the Clinton administration.

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