[f. SPUNK sb.]
1. intr. To leak out, to become known. Sc.
1808. in Jamieson.
1820. Hogg, Sheph. Cal. (1829), I. 28. It at last spunkit out that Rob Dodds had got hame safe enough.
1822. Galt, Sir A. Wylie, xxxviii. It might be detrimental if ony thing were to spunk out.
1857. Stewart, Scot. Charact., 43 (E.D.D.). It spunkit oot I’d gat a letter frae Dr. Quibbles.
2. With up. a. U.S. To show spunk or spirit; to stand up, assert oneself spiritedly or courageously.
c. 1850. ‘Dow Jr.,’ in Jerdan, Yankee Hum. (1853), 109. Just spunk up to the old codger—let him know you are not afraid of him.
1866. Harvard Mem. Biogr., II. 7. Sometimes I feel as if I must lie down;… but I ‘spunk up’ and have thus far held out.
1898. Westcott, David Harum, xxii. Then he spunked up some an’ says [etc.].
b. Sc. To blaze or fire up in anger or passion.
1898. N. Munro, John Splendid, viii. 86. He spunked up like tinder. ‘Do you call me a liar?’ he said.
