junk English · revision 13334

− It is Middle English junke, jonke, an old cable or rope, a nautical word of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It may be the same word as junke, a rush, from Old French jonc, rush, reed, from Latin iuncus (see [[jonquil]]), also used of something worthless,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) but the OED finds no evidence of a connection.^(Etymonline)

− It is [[bor|pt|junco]] or Dutch jonk,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Malay jong, ajong, ship, large boat,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) probably from Javanese jong.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)