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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sponk(e, Spunk(e, n. Also: spoink, spunck, spounk. [e.m.E. spunck (1582), spunk (1647), OIr. spongc, sponc, Gael. spong, ultim. f. spongia a sponge. Also in the later dial.]

1. fig. A spark, a minute particle, a trace (of something, chiefly non-material), usu. viewed as the initiator of regeneration or the final remnant of something.Freq. in collocation with terminology associated with fire.(1) 1460 Hay Alex. 9750.
Giff he demys vrang tha[n] cummys Sinceris Quhilk haly sponk [pr. spouk] of conscience callit is 1531 Bell. Boece I 211.
Thir two pepill … grew in maist hatrent aganis otheris, for ane sponk of small occasioun of unkindnes 1542–3 Hamilton P. I 430.
Our hail clergy ar stomakat and thair is nane of thaim that hes ane sponk of lycht 1567 G. Ball. 186.
Of the fals fyre of purgatorie Is nocht left in ane sponk 1590 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 508.
Charitie would have made him thinke with himselfe (if there had beene a sponke thereof within him) c1590 Fowler II 162/2.
Albeit that some sponke of vertew and valeur hes bewrayed it self … for the delyverye and redemption of Italye 1603 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 56.
Ȝour hieness Session and College off Justice, the speciall sponk of light 1603 W. Alexander Darius 1219 (A).
If any sponkes [J. sparkes] of that respect remaine 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas iii 446.
Seazing on her death-seal'd lipps to knowe If any sponk of breath as ȝit remain'd 1631 Sel. Biog. I 359.
If any sponk of that old kyndnes remain(b) a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 430/42.
Bot giff this sete off senatouris gang done The spunk off iustice off this regione I wott nocht quhowe this realm sal rewled be 1587 Calderwood IV 656.
Spunke 1587–8 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 715.
Spunck 1596 Dalr. II 151/33.
Of thir spunkis throuch Scotland kendlet sik a low that [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 146.
To tak a piece of courage, and hauld in the spunk of lyff in the wark till God sould haiff mercie 1602 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 947.
[To certify he was far from the least] spunck [of such] conceipt c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 1b.
If they hade hade a spunk of Gods right fear or a blink of memorie of ther awin dewties to ther soveraine [etc.] 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 118/81.
All this is but a spunke, a glance, A shaddow and a trace, Of such a loue as raignd into The formest age 1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 681.
Loe, while ev'n His life's last spunke is spent 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 421.
If there be anything of Christ's in me … it is but a spunk of borrowed fire, that can scarce warm myself 1654 Aberd. Council Lett. III 244.
The Inglishs by thair being heir … have neirby extinguishit the spunk and cutt off any poor remander of hopes that we haid of recoverie(c) 1553 Knox III 378.
Thair is in yow a spounk of faith 1596 Dalr. II 465/27.
Becaus tha slokned not furth in the beginning the spounkis and sparkis of hæresie 1609 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 189.
Onie spounk of your sacred majesteis gratious favour(d) c1590 Fowler II 41/32.
He that hes a spoink of iudgement may perceaue [etc.](2) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 104.
If we have na other knowledge but the knowledge quhilk we have by nature, and be the light and spunkes that are left in nature 1596 Dalr. II 57/4.
He slokned out all occasioun of ciuil weir and nychtbour fead, spunk and spark 1596 Dalr. II 164/15.
Not willing to leiue ane spunk unsloknet 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 72/61.
Then will that litle sponke and flaming eye Bleaze brauelie forth 1629 Boyd Last B. 64.
Though all seeme to bee dead, yet there is some little secret spunke within, which shall neuer bee quenched 1635 Dickson Wr. 23.
So shall thy little spunk … grow to a flame 1640 Baillie I 262.
The … diligence of the preachers, did shortlie cast water on this spunk a1660 Sempill P. 8/68.
A pack-man with his Puritane spunks 1675 Sel. Biog. II 120.
Yet hath that spunk never died which was kindled

2. lit. A spark (of fyre). 1533 Boece 499b.
Ane threde wrocht with pik & burntstane, apoun the end of the quhilk is kindillit ane litill spunk of fyre 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 456.
Flax, or lint, or tow, where it has a spark of fire in it, and a spunk that neither has light nor heat with it, but only is smoking 1639 Fugitive Poetry II xv 3/5.
When once his wrath taks with, lik spunk on hearth

3. A match. Also fig. 1687 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXVII 147.
I prepared spunks and tinder to light my candlefig. ?a1700 Sc. N. & Q. II 62.
He stole his Whig-spunks tipt wi' brunstane