hunks

• IPA^(key): /hʌŋks/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌŋks

Unknown.

hunks (plural hunkses)

1. (slang, dated) A crotchety or surly person.
   • 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “Loomings”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:

     What of it, if some old hunks of a sea-captain orders me to get a broom and sweep down the decks? What does that indignity amount to, weighed, I mean, in the scales of the New Testament? Do you think the archangel Gabriel thinks anything the less of me, because I promptly and respectfully obey that old hunks in that particular instance? Who aint a slave? Tell me that. Well, then, however the old sea-captains may order me about—however they may thump and punch me about, I have the satisfaction of knowing that it is all right; that everybody else is one way or other served in much the same way—either in a physical or metaphysical point of view, that is; and so the universal thump is passed round, and all hands should rub each other’s shoulder-blades, and be content.

   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick:

     Now, Bildad, I am sorry to say, had the reputation of being an incorrigible old hunks, and in his sea-going days, a bitter, hard task-master.

   • 1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:

     I used to fancy my revolver shooting when I was with the colours, and if I do get a chance I’ll put a shot through the old hunks, if only to prove to you that I’m no liar.

2. (slang, dated) A stingy man; a miser.

Inflected forms.

hunks

1. plural of hunk

• “hunks”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• Kuhns, Shunk