skank, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

skank v.

also scank

[Allsopp, Dict. Caribbean English Usage (1996), suggests the dance style is ‘derived from the kind of hip-swinging dancing which is both typical of people of generally low social status and reminiscent of the waist movements of a motorcyclist speeding in and out of other traffic’]

(orig. W.I.)

1. to dance in a style associated with ska, dub or reggae music (and latterly drum and bass); thus skanking n. and adj.; skanked out, exhausted (by energetic dancing).

1965		Wailers ‘Dancing Shoes’ 🎵 We’re goin’ skankin’ all night long / Just as long as they play our song.
1975		E. Brodber Yards in the City of Kingston 42: The music is reggae or ska and can be danced to as a waltz or skanking.
1981		Morn. Call (Allentown, PA) 5 Feb. 73/1: Eric Vosikkinen started pumping it out, the SRO crowd skanked their hearts out.
1987		Prlando Sentinel (FL) 5 Apr. 74/2: I’m starting to feel skanked out [...] It’s getting stuffy in here.
1999		Guardian Guide 12–18 June 31: Expect the usual come-as-you-are vibe and skanking party mayhem.
2000		Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 74: For that special easy skankin’, rudebwoy new year party, get some reggae, soul and funk.
2017		hubpages.com ‘Roadman Slang 4 Jun. 🌐 Skanking/cutting shapes - the act of dancing energetically to drum and bass music.

2. in fig. sense, to move rhythmically.

1999

(con. 1979–80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 39: A broken swing skanked in the chilly breeze.

3. to steal and run away; to rob.

1970s		L. Kwesi Johnson ‘Yout Scene’ in Mi Revalueshanary Fren (2002) 3: But de breddah dem a scank; / dem naw rab bank.
1986		R. Hewitt White Talk Black Talk 130: ‘Skank’ – meaning to dance and to steal or act fraudulently.
1997		N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 34: Just in case some fucker skanks his three clipper lighters.
2001		OnLine Dict. of Playground Sl. 🌐 skank n. [...] 2) marijuana. e.g. ‘Did you skank my skank?’.
2003		N. Griffiths Stump 61: —I thought yeh were gunner skank the place there an fuckin then!
2011		J.J. Connolly Viva La Madness 157: You don’t come to London to collect three mill on your own ... Not unless you’re skanking someone.

4. to use deception to get one’s way.

1982		Eble Campus Sl. Fall 4: skank – to obtain by devious means; to happen upon something good undeservedly [...] I skanked some of my little sister’s albums.
2008		J. Niven Kill Your Friends (2009) 36: Banging on about royalty uplifts, or trying to skank you for a few extra points.

5. to loaf around.

2001		J. King White Trash 168: Walls covered in thick graffitti [...] massive trainers on skanking white kids.
2007		L. Redhead Cherry Pie [ebook] [N]ot really knowing what to do with myself when I wasn’t taking my clothes off for a living or skanking around wheelie bins.

6. (US campus) to observe members of the opposite sex.

1987		Eble Campus Sl. Oct.
1990		Eble Campus Sl. Apr.

7. (UK black) to play truant.

1997		N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 11: Skank off school an’ go up the West End or som’ing.
2000		N. Barlay Crumple Zone 2: The flakiest all-in under-sixteen bullshitters ever to skank off school and munch out on junk food.

8. to cheat, to ‘stab in the back’.

1989		M. Amis London Fields 179: Catastrophic welshings and skankings that caused low whistles even among Keith’s acquaintances.
1990		London Posse ‘Original London Style’ 🎵 Some gangster’s gonna skank ya.
2000		J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 9: Someone [...] says they can pay their bills, ain’t gonna be skanking anybody.