1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry (1890), p. 91. I was in a complete funk. 1837. Barham, I. L., Look at the Clock, ed. 1862, p. 39. Pryce, usually brimful of valour when drunk, Now experienced what schoolboys denominate funk. 1848. Ruxton, Life in the Far West, p. 9. The mules, which was a-snorting with funk and running before the Injuns ... followed her right into the corral, and thar they was safe. 1850. Literary World (New York), 30 Nov. So my friend’s fault is timidity.... I grant, then, that the funk is sublime, which is a true and friendly admission. 1856. Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, p. 196. If I was going to be flogged next minute, I should be in a blue funk. 1859. Whitty, Political Portraits, p. 30. Lord Clarendon did not get through the business without these failures, which result from the intellectual process termed freely funk. 1861. Macmillan’s Magazine, p. 211. I was in a real blue funk. 1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xxxvi. I was in a real blue funk and no mistake. 1870. London Figaro, 19 Oct. After the Fire. He was in a mortal funk, no doubt. 1871. Maxwell, in Life (1882), xvi., 382. Certainly χλωρὸν θéος is the Homeric for a blue funk. 1888. Cassell’s Saturday Journal, 29 Dec., p. 305. You’re always in a funk about nothing at all. 3. (schoolboys’).—A coward. 1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. v. Bosher said, ‘Let’s cut it,’ and he and Peebles bolted. (They were neither of them funks, of course, but they lost their heads.) Verb. (common).—1. To smoke out. See Funk the cobbler. 1720. Durfey, Wit and Mirth, vi., 303. With a sober dose Of coffee funks his nose. 1578. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. funk, to smoke, figuratively to smoke or stink through fear. 1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii., 2. Tom. But, I say, only see how confoundedly the dustman’s getting hold of Logic—we’ll funk him. (Tom and Jerry smoke Logic), Log. Oh, hang your cigars, I don’t like it; let’s have no funking. 1841. Punch, I., p. 172. Look here ... isn’t it considerable clear they’re a all funking like burnt cayenne in a clay pipe, or couldn’t they have made a raise somehow to get a ship of their own, or borrow one to send after that caged-up coon of a Macleod. 2. (common).—To terrify; to shrink or quail through nervousness or cowardice. 1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, Bk. III., ch. vi., p. 294. Perhaps we’re only funking ourselves useless, and it mayn’t be the farm chaps at all. 3. (colloquial).—To fear; to hesitate; to shirk; and (among pugilists) to come it (q.v.). 1836. Smith, The Individual, ‘The Thieves’ Chaunt.’ But dearer to me Sue’s kisses far Than grunting peck or other grub are, And I never funk the lambskin men When I sits with her in the boozing ken.