an aluminum or nickel coin and monetary unit of France, equal to 100 centimes. Abbreviation:F., f., Fr, fr.
2.
any of the monetary units of various other nations and territories, as Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Martinique, Senegal, Switzerland, and Tahiti, equal to 100 centimes.
3.
a former silver coin of France, first issued under Henry III.
4.
a former monetary unit of Algeria, Guinea, and Morocco.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME frank < OF franc, so called because the coin was first inscribed with the name of the king as ML Réx Francōrum King of the Franks]
The primary unit of currency in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and Monaco before the adoption of the euro.
[Middle English frank, French gold coin, from Old French franc, from Medieval Latin Francōrum (rēx), (king) of the Franks (from the legend on the first of these coins), genitive pl. of Francus, Frank; see Frank.]
Franc\, n. [F., fr. franc a Franc. See Frank, a.] A silver coin of France, and since 1795 the unit of the French monetary system. It has been adopted by Belgium and Swizerland. It is equivalent to about nineteen cents, or ten pence, and is divided into 100 centimes.
Frank\, a. [Compar Franker; superl. Frankest.] [F. franc free, frank, L. Francus a Frank, fr. OHG. Franko the name of a Germanic people on the Rhine, who afterward founded the French monarchy; cf. AS. franca javelin, Icel. frakka. Cf. Franc, French, a., Franchise, n.]1. Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free. [R.] "It is of frank gift." --Spenser. 2. Free in uttering one's real sentiments; not reserved; using no disguise; candid; ingenuous; as, a frank nature, conversation, manner, etc. 3. Liberal; generous; profuse. [Obs.] Frank of civilities that cost them nothing. --L'Estrange. 4. Unrestrained; loose; licentious; -- used in a bad sense. --Spenser. Syn: Ingenuous; candid; artless; plain; open; unreserved; undisguised; sincere. See Candid, Ingenuous.
Frank\, n. [Cf. F. franc. See Frank, a.]1. (Ethnol.) A member of one of the German tribes that in the fifth century overran and conquered Gaul, and established the kingdom of France. 2. A native or inhabitant of Western Europe; a European; -- a term used in the Levant. 3. A French coin. See Franc.
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