Junk
/dʒʌŋk/noun
Worthless, discarded, or low-quality items; also a type of sailing ship.
Did you know?The word’s history is messy and debated: the ‘worthless stuff’ sense is clear in English by the 18th century, while the ‘Chinese sailing ship’ sense may come through Portuguese or Malay, showing how trade routes can hide inside everyday words.
Etymological Timeline
Late 14th Century
Middle English
junc
“A piece of old rope or cord; later, refuse or rubbish.”
16th Century
English
junk
“Old cord, rope, or worn-out material; later, useless scraps.”
16th-17th Century
English
junk
“A large seagoing vessel, especially one used in East and Southeast Asia.”
18th Century
English
junk
“Worthless objects, trash, or discarded odds and ends.”
Modern English
English
junk
“Something of little value, especially waste, clutter, or inferior goods.”