A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties; and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages. They were found; and in lesser numbers are still found; throughout South-East Asia and India; but primarily in China; perhaps most famously in Hong Kong. The etymology is somewhat obscure - Phonetic; from Chinese 'boat' (pinyin: chuan); also based on and pronounced as joong in Min Nan dialect. It entered English in the 17th century via Portuguese junco; from Malay jong.