Английский Этимологический словарь - funk (2)

- "bad smell," 1623, from dial. Fr. funkiиre "smoke," from O.Fr. fungier "give off smoke," from L. fumigare "to smoke." Funky was originally "repulsive" (1784) but began to develop an approving sense in jazz slang c.1900, probably on the notion of "earthy, strong, deeply felt," reached wider popularity c.1954 and in the 1960s acquired a broad slang sense of "fine, stylish, excellent."