Pronunciation: [kˈɒnk] (IPA) 
The word "conk" can be a bit tricky to spell. It's pronounced /kɒŋk/ with a hard "k" sound at the beginning and a nasal "ng" sound at the end. One common mistake is to spell it "conch," like the shell, which has a different pronunciation. "Conk" can be used as a verb meaning "to strike somebody on the head," or as a noun meaning "a blow to the head." Keep in mind the hard "k" and nasal "ng" sounds when spelling this word.
Conk can be a noun or a verb that is used in different contexts, having different meanings. As a noun, conk refers to the head or nose, especially in terms of its shape or appearance. For instance, one might say, "He received a blow to the conk, leaving it swollen." In this sense, it is colloquial and often used in informal settings.
Conk can also function as a verb, with various meanings depending on the context. One way it is used is to describe the act of deliberately losing consciousness or fainting. This can be achieved by striking the head, suffocating oneself, or intentionally hyperventilating, among other methods. It is often seen in street fighting or as a form of protest. Additionally, to conk can mean to forcefully crash or collide into something or someone. For instance, "The car conked into the wall, causing significant damage."
Another use of conk is to describe the process of chemically straightening tightly curled hair, particularly within the African American community. The technique chemically alters the hair structure to make it straighter and more manageable. This practice has historical roots and remains a common method for hair styling.
In summary, conk can refer to the head or nose as a noun, or to actions such as fainting, crashing, or chemically straightening hair as a verb. The meaning of conk depends largely on its context within a sentence.
The word "conk" has two distinct etymologies, depending on its usage and meaning.
1. Noun meaning "nose":
- The noun "conk", meaning the nose, originated in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the 20th century. It is derived from the Wolof word "koñ", which means nose. Wolof is a language spoken in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania. The term entered AAVE through the influence of African languages brought by enslaved Africans to the Americas.
2. Verb meaning "to hit or strike":
- The verb "conk", meaning to hit or strike, has a different origin. It derived from the late 19th-century slang term "conk", which referred to a head or a blow to the head.
