Coming from both Panjabi and Hindi dialects, in which “pakkā” means “cooked, ripe, substantial,” this British slang word has been in use since at least the early 17th century. The broadest definition of “pukka” is “genuine,” as in, “Is that a pukka Rolex?” However, it can also mean “excellent,” such as, “Pukka job tonight!” At one point, “pukka” was used to describe something appropriate to high society, but that usage has dropped away.