# flank

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈflæŋk/ · frequency rank #12,241

## Definitions
1. To attack the flank(s) of.
2. To defend the flank(s) of.
3. To place to the side(s) of.
4. To be placed to the side(s) of something (usually in terms of two objects, one on each side).

## Etymology
From Late Middle English flanc, from Late Old English flanc (“flank”), from Old French flanc, of Germanic origin, probably Frankish *hlanca, from Proto-Germanic *hlankō (“bend, curve, hip, flank”), from Proto-Germanic *hlankaz (“flexible, sleek, bendsome”), from Proto-Indo-European *kleng- (“to bend”). Akin to Old High German hlanca (“loin”), Middle Low German lanke (“hip joint”) (German lenken (“to bend, turn, lead”)), Old English hlanc (“loose, slender, flaccid, lank”). More at lank.

## Easily confused with
- **flat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flat)
- **funk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-funk)
- **flaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flaw)
- **flap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flap)
- **Fran** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-fran)
- **flax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flax)
- **frank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-frank)
- **flash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flash)
- **Flynn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flynn)
- **flint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flint)
- **flock** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flock)
- **flare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flare)
- **flick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flick)
- **Franz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-franz)
- **fling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-fling)
- **flung** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flung)
- **flaps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flaps)
- **flask** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-flask)
- **franc** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-franc)
- **Frans** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flank-vs-frans)

## Common misspellings (8)
`falnk`, `fflank`, `flakn`, `flankk`, `flannk`, `fllank`, `flnak`, `lfank`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/flank