Young people who adopt a rebellious style and attitude, often associated with punk rock music; can also mean a person of no value or a piece of burning wood used to light fires.
First appeared in 1600s meaning 'prostitute' or 'worthless person,' derived from unknown origins. Later adopted in 1970s by youth rejecting mainstream culture and associated with punk rock.
Punk culture rejected everything mainstream—the music, fashion, and attitude—so it's fitting that a word meaning 'worthless' got adopted as a badge of honor! It shows how communities can completely flip a negative word into something they're proud of.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.