▪ I. crunk, a. and n.2 slang (orig. U.S.).
Brit. /krʌŋk/, U.S. /krəŋk/
Forms: 19– crunk, 19– krunk
[Origin uncertain. Perhaps > v.1 (perhaps after drunk adj.), or perhaps a blend of crazy adv. and drunk adj.]
A. adj. Exciting or fun; (of a person) extremely energized or excited, esp. as a result of listening to (usually hip-hop or rap) music. Freq. in to get (it) crunk and variants.
| 1995Totally Unofficial Rap-Dictionary (Bi-weekly Posting, part 1/2) in rec.music.hip-hop (Usenet newsgroup) 1 Dec. Crunk,..Hype, phat. ‘Tonight is going to be crunk.’ 1996 J. Dupri et al. Tonite's tha Night (song, perf. ‘Kriss Kross’) in Hip-hop & Rap (2003) 422 We came here to party. Gitty crunk, get drunk, and leave your house with somebody. 2000 Atlanta Jrnl. & Constit. (Nexis) 24 Feb. 9 jd, We were just too krunk (too fired up) for that..game. 2002 Vibe July 26/2 They were urban-music feminists: sexy, beautiful, strong women who..stood up for their rights, got it crunk on the dance floor, and educated people about safe sex. 2004 Philadelphia Feb. 64/2 Get crunk with some raw hip-hop. |
B. n. A style of hip-hop or rap music originating in the American South, characterized by repeatedly shouted catch phrases and elements usually found in electronic dance music, such as prominent bass, handclaps, and beeping or buzzing synthesizer noises. Freq. attrib.
| 2000So, why do we all listen to what we Do? in rec.music.hip-hop (Usenet Newsgroup) 12 Mar. For me, crunk and most southern beats are horrible. 2002 Indianapolis Recorder (Nexis) 17 May 1 Shorti Short Kut's music style is a blend of West Coast hip-hop mixed with the energy of the East Coast and down South Krunk music. 2004 Observer 21 Mar. (Rev. section) 13/2 ‘Yeah’, is a revelation. Featuring rapper Ludacris, ‘crunk’ bawler Lil' John, booty bass and an irresistible, acid-hued hook, it is one of the best singles of the year so far. 2005 New Statesman 7 Mar. 43/3 Crunk (combining ‘crazy’ and ‘drunk’) is a supposedly new hip-hop sub-genre that prizes hedonism, bling and no-brainer party rhythms over all else. |
▪ II. † crunk, v. Obs. or dial.
Also 6–7 crunck(e.
[Cf. Icel. kr{uacu}nka to croak (as a raven).]
intr. Of some birds: To utter a hoarse harsh cry.
| 1565–73 Cooper Thesaurus, Gruo..to crunke like a crane. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis iv. (Arb.) 111 The skrich howle..Her burial roundel dooth ruck, and cruncketh in howling. 1617 Minsheu Ductor, To Cruncke or Crunckle like a Crane. |
▪ III. crunk, n. dial.
[f. prec.: cf. Icel. kr{uacu}nk the raven's cry.]
A hoarse harsh cry; a croak.
| 1868 Atkinson Cleveland Gloss., Crunk, the hoarse cry or croak of the raven or carrion crow. |