Heretofore I had only thought of "junk" as being scrap material, but lately I've heard people referring to their genitals as junk. While theirs may well be junk in in the original sense, it seems curious that they would openly admit it.
Also, if their genitals are junk, what must they think of junk food?

It's about 20 years old, and it's mainly used for male genitalia. The linguist Arnold Zwicky had a post about it (link) and he mentions other refernces, including a discussion on the American Dialect Society list. The way I've heard it used, it seems to refer to the whole package. HTH.

I've heard it used but when I was young we referred to the genitals as "That-Which-Cannot-Be-Mentioned" while after I got married it became "Thing-That-Cannot-Be-Touched".

Wow, I've not heard it before. So much to learn; so little time.

z's link helped for understanding the use of the term on a number of levels:

quote:

trashy alternative to “the family jewels”

and

quote:

Unlike these other terms, however, junk is a harsh monosyllable evocative of four-letter taboos.

and

quote:

“Junk” is even better than “stuff” for this purpose, since though both are monosyllables with the vowel of “fuck”, “junk” has the final k, so it sounds a bit more sexual but is still an innocent ordinary word (unlike “shit”, which has the ‘stuff, belongings’ sense, but is a taboo word).

quote:

trashy alternative to “the family jewels”

I first heard this term while in basic training. The NCO in charge of our barrracks warned everyone on the top bunk to be "very careful you don't catch the family jewels between the mattress and the spring when you jump off the top." It still sends chills up my spine when I think of the consequences of that action.

Clearly I watch different movies and TV than you do, because this term seems very common to me. I've heard it used for several years now, and the kids/teens in my urban library use the term.

I am certain it is used in Rap and Hip Hop, also. It's a very rhythmic/rhyming sort of word.

Oh, well, I guess I've lead a sheltered life...
Does the expression, "junk in her trunk" mean she's having sex? I thought it meant she had a big butt. Or am I a few years behind the times?

Or..."junk" drawer?

I, too, have led a sheltered life, I guess, Geoff.