If someone has spunk, they have what it takes to continue doing stand-up comedy even when audiences are rude or disinterested. ... Spunk is an informal noun that means "spark" in Scottish, from the Latin word for "sponge," spongia.

Is spunk a slang word?

(vulgar slang) Ejaculated semen. (informal) Courage; spirit. (slang, vulgar) To ejaculate.

Why is it called Spunk?

spunk (n.)

1530s, "a spark," Scottish, from Gaelic spong "tinder, pith, sponge," from Latin spongia (see sponge (n.)). The sense of "courage, pluck, mettle" is first attested 1773.