adjective, lank·er, lank·est.
1.
(of plants) unduly long and slender: lank grass; lank, leafless trees.
2.
(of hair) straight and limp; without spring or curl.
3.
lean; gaunt; thin.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English lanc, Old English hlanc; akin to Old High German hlanca loin, side. Cf. flank
before 1000; Middle English lanc, Old English hlanc; akin to Old High German hlanca loin, side. Cf. flank
Related forms
lank·ly, adverb
lank·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To lank
Collins
World English Dictionary
lank1 (læŋk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | long and limp |
| 2. | thin or gaunt |
| [Old English hlanc loose] | |
| 'lankly1 | |
| —adv | |
| 'lankness1 | |
| —n | |
00:10
Lank
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| lank2 (læŋk) | |
| —adj, —adv | |
| informal (South African) a lot; a great deal | |
| [perhaps from Afrikaans lank long] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
lank
O.E. hlanc "loose and empty, slender, flaccid," from P.Gmc. *khlankaz, perhaps from a root meaning "flexible" (cf. Ger. lenken "to bend, turn aside").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
In my poor, lean lank face nobody has ever seen that any cabbages were sprouting.
Lank stated that he has no record of the last shed permit issued for a shed.
His hair too was shock-white and lank on his forehead.
She has the same lank hair, the same baggy sweaters whose arms are too long.
Nearby Words
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