punkie

Pronunciation




Etymology 1
From + English. is derived from Delaware + ; and  from  (whence ; probably referring to the insects’ small size)  +. Compare the name of the Pennsylvania, USA, borough (from ).

Noun

 * 1)  A small two-winged fly or midge of the family, which bites and then sucks the blood of mammals; a biting midge or sandfly.

Etymology 2


Possibly an alteration of.

Noun

 * 1)  In full punkie lantern: a lantern similar to a jack-o'-lantern consisting of a gourd such as a pumpkin or a root vegetable such as a mangelwurzel or swede which has been hollowed out, in which a candle has been placed; these are chiefly displayed during Punkie Night in late October.

Etymology 3


Possibly an alteration of the first two s of.

Noun

 * 1)   (“a North American sunfish, ”).