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Junk

1. Pieces of old cable or old cordage, used for making gaskets, mats, swabs, etc, and when picked to pieces, forming oakum for filling the seams of ships.

2. Old iron, or other metal, glass, paper, etc, bought and sold by junk dealers.

3. Hard salted beef supplied to ships. Junk bottle, a stout bottle made of thick dark-coloured glass. Junk dealer, a dealer in old cordage, old metal, glass, etc. Junk hook, a wad used in proving cannon; also used in firing hot shot.

Origin: pg. Junco junk, rush, L. Juncus a bulrush, of which ropes were made in early ages. Cf. Junket.