Dunks

/dʌŋks/ verb

Definition

Third-person singular present tense of 'dunk'; to dip or immerse something into liquid, or to slam a basketball through the hoop.

Etymology

From 'dunk,' derived from German/Dutch 'dunken' (to dip). The '-s' marks third-person singular present tense (he/she/it dunks).

Kelly Says

Basketball players 'dunking' are unconsciously using a 400-year-old Germanic verb that originally meant dunking cookies in milk—sports slang preserved an old meaning while making it cool.

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