subs. (old).—A miser; a mean, sordid fellow; a curmudgeon. For synonyms, see SNIDE.
1602. DEKKER, Satiromastix, in Wks. (1873), i., 201. Blun. Nay prethee deare Tucca, come you shall shake— Tuc. Not hands with great HUNKES there, not hands, but Ile shake the gull-groper out of his tan’d skinne.
1602. T. CAMPION, English Poesy (BULLEN, Works, 1889, p. 247). But it drinks up all: that HUNKS detestable.
1647–80. ROCHESTER, Life, Wks.; p. 11. There was an old coveteous HUNKS in the Neighbourhood, who had, notwithstanding his Age, got a very pretty young Wife.
1677. WYCHERLEY, The Plain Dealer, v., 2. Make a very pretty show in the world, let me tell you; nay, a better than your close HUNKS.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HUNKS, a covetous Creature, a miserable Wretch.
1712. Spectator, No. 264. Irus has … given all the intimations he skilfully could of being a close HUNKS with money.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1837. MARRYAT, Snarleyyow; or The Dog Fiend, xii.
| So while they cut their raw salt junks, | |
| With dainties you’ll be cramm’d, | |
| Here’s once for all my mind, OLD HUNKS, | |
| Port Admiral, you be d——d. |
1839. BUCKSTONE, Brother Tom (DICK’S ed., p. 15). One calls him an OLD HUNKS, another a selfish brute.
1840. DICKENS, The Old Curiosity Shop, ch. vii., p. 35. That you become the sole inheritor of the wealth of this rich old HUNKS.
1846. MELVILLE, Moby Dick, 75 (ed. 1892). Bildad, I am sorry to say, had the reputation of being an incorrigible old HUNKS.
1857. A. TROLLOPE, The Three Clerks, ch. iii. I am sure he is a cross old HUNKS, though Mamma says he’s not.
1893. THEODORE MARTIN, Roman Elegies, ii. (Goethe Society Transactions, 1891–2, p. 72). Joys that he stints not his gold, like the close HUNXES of Rome.
