wonk

(wŏngk)
n. Slang

1. A student who studies excessively; a grind.
2. One who studies an issue or a topic thoroughly or excessively: "leading a talkathon of policy wonks in a methodical effort to build consensus for his programs" (Michael Kranish).

[Origin unknown.]

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Refers to someone who studies a subject in great depth. It often refers to technical disciplines such as computers and science and is thus synonymous with "geek." However, a "policy wonk" is a person who is deeply involved in government programs and related details. See geek.

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a nerd

1. n. an earnest student. (Collegiate.)  Yes, you could call Martin a wonk. In fact, he's the classic wonk.
2. n. a bureaucrat; a flunky.  The State Department policy wonks were up all night putting together the report.

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noun
noun, nautical

1: An inexperienced or inefficient person, esp. a cadet or midshipman. (1929 —) .

2: Austral
a: A white (i.e. non-Aboriginal) person. (1938 —) .
E. Webb Sometimes whites would get out of cars along the road and walk over to the Camp and peer inside the humpies, or rough bough shelters, curious to see how the abos lived....One of the boys nailed a board up on a tree near the road with 'wonks—keep out!' on it (1959).

b: An effeminate or homosexual man. (1945 —) .
P. White I'd have to have a chauffeur to drive me about—with a good body—just for show, though. I wouldn't mind if the chauffeur was a wonk (1970).

c: Used as a general term of abuse. (1967 —) .
R. Donaldson 'Good on y', y' fat-gutted wonk.' 'An you, Elephant-belly' (1967).


3: US A studious or hard-working person. (1962 —) .
E. Segal Who could Jenny be talking to that was worth appropriating moments set aside for a date with me? Some musical wonk? (1970).

[Perh. from wonky adjective, unsteady, unsound.]

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Français (French)
n. - (US) bûcheur

Español (Spanish)
n. - persona estudiosa o trabajadora

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