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Spanking - 7 dictionary results

spank⋅ing

  [spang-king]
Use Spanking in a Sentence
–adjective
1. moving rapidly and smartly.
2. quick and vigorous: a spanking pace.
3. blowing briskly: a spanking breeze.
4. Informal. unusually fine, great, large, etc.; remarkable; distinctive: a spanking monogram in gold embroidery.
–adverb
5. Informal. extremely, strikingly, or remarkably; very: three little girls in spanking new dresses.
Origin:
1660–70; perh. < Scand; cf. Dan, Norw spanke, Sw spånka to strut

Related forms:
spank⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

spank

1  [spangk] ,
–verb (used with object)
1. to strike (a person, usually a child) with the open hand, a slipper, etc., esp. on the buttocks, as in punishment.
–noun
2. a blow given in spanking; a smart or resounding slap.
Origin:
1720–30; imit.

spank

2  [spangk] ,
–verb (used without object)
to move rapidly, smartly, or briskly.
Origin:
1800–10; back formation from spanking
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Spanking
spank   (spāngk)   
v.   spanked, spank·ing, spanks

v.   tr.
To slap on the buttocks with a flat object or with the open hand, as for punishment.
v.   intr.
To move briskly or spiritedly.
n.  A slap on the buttocks.

[Perhaps of imitative origin.]
spank·ing   (spāng'kĭng)   
adj.  
  1. Informal Exceptional of its kind; remarkable.
  2. Swift and vigorous: a spanking pace.
  3. Brisk and fresh: a spanking breeze.
adv.  Used as an intensive: a spanking clean shirt.
n.  A number of slaps on the buttocks delivered in rapid succession, as for punishment.

[Perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]
spank'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Spanking

Spank"ing\, a. 1. Moving with a quick, lively pace, or capable of so doing; dashing.

Four spanking grays ready harnessed. --G. Colman, the Younger.

2. Large; considerable. [Colloq.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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spanking  (adj.)
1666, "very big or fine," later (especially of horses) "moving at a lively pace" (1738), perhaps from a Scand. source (cf. Dan. spanke "to strut").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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