Pfffffffffft Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 [This is a fast-access FAQ excerpt.] The OED defines "wonk" as "a studious or hardworking person". An article in Sports Illustrated, 17 Dec. 1962, explains that in Harvard slang, there was a tripartite classification of students into wonks, preppies, and jocks. I believe that this classification is in fact the origin of each of the three terms. The earliest citations in the OED for the three terms are dated, respectively, 1962, 1970, and 1963. I have found an occurrence of "wonk" in Time in 1954; an occurrence of "preppie" in the Cambridge Review in 1956; and an occurrence of "jock" in the Harvard Crimson in 1958. In all three instances the context is a Harvard one. (But Esther Vail recalls: "'jocks'; we called them that at Syracuse Univ. as early as 1948".) "Wonk" is said to derive from the word "know" spelled backwards, but this is not certain. Other suggested origins are the adjective "wonky" = "weak, shaky", and "wanker" = "masturbator". "Preppy" comes from "preparatory school". "Jock" (attested from 1922 in the sense "athletic supporter") comes from "jockstrap", from "jock" = "penis", from the male name Jack. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AORAone Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 dude, seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telo Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 jesus neck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telo Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 Originally posted by Telo jesus neck exactly what i was thinking.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caL Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 wonky sagginy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!@#$% Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 it's 11:15 on a friday night and i'm still in the lab sequencing genes. wonk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETO Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 :nope: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ski Mask Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 I was just thinking about the term "policy wonk" the other day for no apparent reason. glad somone else is on the same wavelength Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfffffffffft Posted February 28, 2004 Author Share Posted February 28, 2004 there was a much more complex definition, but i figured it would be too much for some people* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0scarmire Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 :zombie: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overtime Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 Originally posted by caL wonky sagginy yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esp Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 wonk pile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amish son Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 GOOD JOB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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