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spunk (s) (noun) (no plural)
1. Spirit, courage, and determination: Tom's little daughter has a lot of spunk when it comes to her learning to play the piano.
2. Etymology: from Gaelic spong, "tinder, pith, sponge"; borrowed from Latin spongia, "sponge."

Before it meant spunk or "courage", it had the meaning of "tender" or "wood" used in lighting a fire."

It comes from Irish sponnc, "tinder."

Courage and spirit to do something.
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This entry is located in the following unit: English Words in Action, Group S (page 11)