Dunk
/dʌŋk/noun
To dip or thrust something briefly into a liquid, or to score by forcefully putting a basketball through the hoop.
Did you know?The verb is first recorded in the 17th century with the sense of plunging or dipping, and its exact origin is uncertain, which makes it one of those words that appears suddenly in English like it was always there.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
English
dunk
“To plunge or dip into liquid; later, to submerge briefly.”
18th–19th Century
English
dunk
“Used more broadly for soaking, immersing, or drenching.”
20th Century
English
dunk
“In basketball, to force the ball down through the hoop with one hand or both.”
Modern English
English
dunk
“To dip food into a liquid or sauce, or to make a forceful basketball score.”