skunk

noun

1. (US, error-lua-timeout)Any of various small mammals, of most genera of the family Mephitidae, native to North and Central America, having a glossy black with a white coat and two musk glands at the base of the tail for emitting a noxious smell as a defensive measure.

   “The beaſts of offence be Squunckes, Ferrets, Foxes, vvhoſe impudence ſometimes drives them to the good vvives Hen rooſt, to fill their Paunch: ſome of theſe be blacke; their furre is of much eſteeme.”

2. (US, dated, derogatory, error-lua-timeout, slang)A despicable person.

   “In fact, the term he applied to this species of human being was "skunk," and he used it freely.”

3. (US, dated, derogatory, error-lua-timeout, slang)Anything very bad; a stinker.

   “On the other hand, many critics contend that in terms of literary quality, many of the multiple-storyline books are true skunks.”

4. (US, error-lua-timeout, slang)A walkover victory in sports or board games, as when the opposing side is unable to score.
5. (US, error-lua-timeout)A win by thirty or more points. (A double skunk is sixty or more, a triple skunk ninety or more.)
6. (US)A member of a hybrid skinhead and punk subculture.

   “In the early 1980s, certain ex-punks joined them, becoming 'skunks' – a hybrid subculture of skinheads and punks.”

   “2011, Gerard DeGroot (quoting Brown), Seventies Unplugged […] mods, skins, suedes, smoothies, punks, skunks, rude boys, soul boys and headbangers […]”

7. (US, abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, slang, uncountable)Clipping of skunkweed, type of marijuana.
8. (US, countable, uncountable)Any of the strains of hybrids of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica that may have THC levels exceeding those of typical hashish.

verb

1. (US, error-lua-timeout, slang, transitive)To defeat so badly as to prevent any opposing points.

   “I skunked him at cards.”

   “We fished all day but the lake skunked us.”

2. (US, error-lua-timeout)To win by thirty or more points.
3. (US, error-lua-timeout, intransitive)To go bad, to spoil.