Etymograph

English

Punkie Night

Punkie Night comes from English punkie ‘lantern similar to a jack-o’-lantern’.

  1. English1500–presentpunkie‘lantern similar to a jack-o’-lantern’
  2. EnglishtodayPunkie Night

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. English1500–presentpunkie‘lantern similar to a jack-o’-lantern’
  2. EnglishtodayPunkie Night

A compound of punkie ‘lantern similar to a jack-o’-lantern’ + night

Jersey Dutch *punkje

English punkie

Proto-Indo-European *nókʷts ‘night’

Proto-Germanic *nahts ‘night’

Proto-West Germanic *naht ‘night’

Old English niht ‘night’

Middle English nighte

English night

Every English word from English punkie

Today it means

name A night near the end of October, related to Halloween, observed in parts of South West England by the displaying of punkies (“lanterns similar to jack-o'-lanterns”), and traditionally by children begging for candles for their punkies and threatening people who refuse their requests.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / English punkie / Punkie Night

Shirt and support for this word