Английский Этимологический словарь - wonk

- 1954, popularized 1993 during Clinton administration in U.S.; perhaps a shortening of Brit. slang wonky "shaky, unreliable," from dialectal words based on O.E. wancol "shaky, tottering." Or perhaps a variant of Brit. slang wanker "masturbator." It was earlier British naval slang for "midshipman."