Spunkies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A plural term for spirited and courageous individuals; small spirited or lively insects or creatures; informal reference to vibrant or energetic young people
2. Describing multiple persons displaying boldness and lively determination; a group of tiny energetic animals; colloquial word for enthusiastic or plucky youths
3. Referring to several characters known for their grit and enthusiasm; a set of diminutive lively beings; slang for dynamic or feisty youngsters

Etymology: "Spunkies" is simply the plural of "spunky," so it inherits the story of its base word. "Spunky" is formed from "spunk" plus the suffix "-y," which English has long used to turn nouns into adjectives meaning "full of" or "having the quality of" the noun. "Spunk" supplied the sense of spirit or mettle, so a spunky person is one full of it. The noun "spunk" is traceable through a long chain of Germanic forms, with roots reaching back to a Proto-Indo-European base, and the "-y" ending itself descends from an Old English suffix. The plural spunkies follows the usual English pattern: the -y becomes -ies when a plural is formed. It is applied to groups of people or animals displaying the same lively, plucky energy.

Synonyms: spirited ones, lively ones, brave ones

Antonyms: cowards, timid ones