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zonk

Today it means: An unfavorable card or token, or undesirable or worthless item used as a prize in a contest or game show (such as Let's Make a Deal). Full definition →

First used 1950

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The story

First attested in c. 1950. Unknown origin, likely imitative, of echoic origin.

First known use, by meaning

from 1950 To hit hard.
from 1968 To make (someone) sleepy or delirious, to put into a stupor.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.