Forms: 5 ion(c)ke, 5–7 iunke, 7 junke, jonk, junck, 7– junk. [a. OF. jonc, jounc, junc = Sp., Pg. junco, It. giunco:—L. juncus rush.]
† 1. A rush. Obs.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), ii. 13. Ȝif … Men seyn that this Croune is of thornes, ȝee schulle understonde that it was of Jonkes [Roxb. iunkes] of the See, that is to sey, Rushes of the See, that prykken als scharpely as Thornes.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), 33 a/2. His bedde was of Ionckes, and his vestyment of hayre. Ibid., 43. Made fyscellis woven wyth rede and Ionkes.
[1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 302 b. Tough sharpe thornes, called the iunkes of ye see.]
2. Surg. A form of splint, originally stuffed with rushes or bents (cf. quots.).
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 150. I appoint him juncks, as some terme them, namely bents rowled up in canvas.
1634. T. Johnson, Parey’s Chirurg., 559. Junkes are made of stickes the bignesse of a man’s finger, wrapped about with rushes, and then with linnen cloth.
1650. trans. Glisson’s Dis. Childr., Rickets (1742), 226. Bandages, Jonks, and clasped Boots every Body knows to be very useful in the Rickets.
1887. Syd. Soc. Lex., Junk,… in Surgery, a thin cushion stuffed with horse-hair and strengthened or not by strips of wood or cane, used to support a broken or sprained limb…. The original junk, which is still employed, consisted of reeds or stiff straw quilted between two pieces of stout calico.
