Unpleasantly damp, musty, and cold; having a disagreeable moist atmosphere. In internet slang, can mean excellent or high-quality, especially regarding marijuana.
From Middle English, possibly from Old Norse dökkr meaning 'dark' or related to 'damp.' The word has maintained its core meaning of uncomfortable wetness for centuries, with recent slang evolution.
The internet transformation of 'dank' from describing musty basements to praising high-quality memes shows how language evolves - the connection might be that both original and slang meanings suggest something concentrated and potent, just with opposite value judgments.
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