junket
UK[ˈdʒʌŋkɪt]US[ˈdʒʌŋkɪt]
n
a trip or journey, especially one made for pleasure and often at public expense.
n
a social gathering or excursion, such as a picnic or party.
n
a dessert made of sweetened flavored milk set with rennet.
v
to go on a pleasure trip or excursion, especially one funded by an organization or public body.
Etymology
the word 'junket' has a surprisingly humble and concrete origin. it entered english in the late middle english period from the old french 'jonquette', which referred to a rush basket. this, in turn, came from the latin 'juncus', meaning 'rush' or 'reed'. the semantic journey is a vivid example of metonymy: the name of the container (the rush basket) came to stand for its contents, specifically a feast of curds and cream that was often carried in such baskets. from denoting this specific dairy-based dessert, the meaning broadened to include any festive meal or banquet. finally, in the 19th century, the term evolved to its modern, sometimes critical, sense of a pleasure trip or excursion, especially one enjoyed by officials at public expense, extending the idea of a lavish feast to a lavish experience.
Analysis
this word is a loanword with a tight, fused structure that does not lend itself to segmentation into meaningful morphemes based on its modern english spelling.
Examples
the senators were accused of going on a taxpayer-funded junket to a tropical resort.
the company's annual sales conference felt more like a luxurious junket than a working meeting.
for dessert, she prepared a traditional lemon junket.