Junk

Junk

Noun / Verb / Adjective · /dʒʌŋk/

Definition

(Noun) old or discarded articles considered useless or of little value; rubbish; a flat-bottomed sailing vessel used in Chinese waters; (Verb) to discard as useless; (Adjective, informal) of poor quality.

Origin

Of uncertain origin; the noun sense of rubbish or discarded material emerged in American English in the mid-19th century, possibly from the nautical term for old rope. The Chinese sailing vessel sense derives from Portuguese junco, from Malay jong or Javanese djong. Both senses have been in English since the 16th century.