To beat thoroughly.
1848. In the second hand of the third game, I made high, low, and game, and ‘skunked’ him, outright, again.—Durivage and Burnham, ‘Stray Subjects,’ p. 135.
1853. A severe defeat at the game of draughts was formerly, and, probably, is now, termed a “skunk.” The man was “skunked.”—S. A. Hammett (‘Philip Paxton’), ‘A Stray Yankee in Texas,’ p. 349.
1890. I never told you boys how I got skunked once out of a good claim did I?—Haskins, ‘Argonauts of California,’ p. 250.
