informal. 1 of a machine : to stop working properly My car's engine conked out this morning. 2 : to fall asleep I conked out on the sofa last night.

What does conked mean in English?

1 : break down especially : stall —usually used with out the motor suddenly conked out. 2a : faint. b : to go to sleep —usually used with off or out conked out for a while after lunch.

Where did the term conked out come from?

as in conk out, 1918, coined by World War I airmen, perhaps in imitation of the sound of a stalling motor, reinforced by conk (v.) "hit on the head," originally "punch in the nose" (1821), from conk (n.), slang for "nose" (1812), perhaps from fancied resemblance of the nose to a conch (pronounced "conk") shell.