punk-rock
UK[ˈpʌŋk rɒk]US[ˈpʌŋk rɑːk]
n
A loud, fast, and aggressive style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1970s, characterized by short songs, simple melodies, and often anti-establishment lyrics.
Etymology
The term 'punk-rock' is a modern compound that tells a story of cultural rebellion. The word 'punk' entered American slang in the early 20th century, evolving to mean a young, inexperienced person or a hoodlum, before being adopted in the 1970s to describe a deliberately crude and confrontational youth subculture. When combined with 'rock', a term solidified in the 1950s for a genre of music born from rhythm and blues, the compound explicitly names the musical arm of that subculture. The logic of the term is direct: it is the 'rock' music associated with the 'punk' attitude and aesthetic, emphasizing raw energy and a DIY ethos in opposition to the perceived excesses of mainstream rock.
Analysis
This is a compound noun formed from two distinct English words. 'Punk' is of uncertain origin, possibly from 16th-century English slang for a prostitute or a young criminal. 'Rock' is a shortening of 'rock and roll', a style of popular music, with the word 'rock' itself having Old English origins (roccian, meaning 'to move to and fro').
Examples
The club was known for hosting live punk-rock bands every weekend.
His fashion sense changed completely when he started listening to punk-rock.
The documentary explored the political roots of the British punk-rock movement.