Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - skunk

n. & v. --n. 1 a any of various cat-sized flesh-eating mammals of the family Mustelidae, esp. Mephitis mephitis having a distinctive black and white striped fur and able to emit a powerful stench from a liquid secreted by its anal glands as a defence. b its fur. 2 colloq. a thoroughly contemptible person. --v.tr. 1 US sl. defeat. 2 fail to pay (a bill etc.). Phrases and idioms skunk-bear US a wolverine. skunk-cabbage US a herbaceous plant, Lysichiton americanum, with an offensive-smelling spathe. Etymology: Amer. Ind. segankw, segongw