wonk

== English == === Etymology === American English student slang 1954; perhaps navy slang before that. "Expert" sense popularized in the Clinton administration, 1993. Origin uncertain, possibly from wonky (“shaky, unreliable”) or wank, wanker or simply expressive. === Pronunciation === === Noun === wonk (plural wonks) (derogatory, informal) An overly studious person, particularly a student. Synonyms: nerd, grind; see also Thesaurus:dork (by extension, informal) A policy wonk or other intellectual expert. ==== Derived terms ==== policy wonk wonkfest wonkish ==== Translations ==== === Verb === wonk (third-person singular simple present wonks, present participle wonking, simple past and past participle wonked) To cram for exams. ==== Derived terms ==== === References === === Further reading === A.Word.A.Day--wonk === Anagrams === Kwon, know