wank

1 of 2

verb

ˈwaŋk 

wanked; wanking; wanks

intransitive verb

chiefly British, vulgar slang

: masturbate

wank

2 of 2

noun

plural wanks

1

chiefly British slang, usually vulgar : wanker

2

chiefly British, vulgar slang : the act or an instance of masturbating

[Alan] Bennett stopped giving interviews in 1993, after The New Yorker speculated about his love life. Shortly afterwards, trapped at home by reporters, he wrote in his diary, 'All you need to do if you want the nation's press camped on your doorstep is say you once had a wank in 1947.'

—Matt Trueman

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1905, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 2