NYT Dictionary

FLANK

/flæŋk/
VerbNounAdjectiveFLANKflank · 1 syllableGrade 7

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2023, 2024, 2026

Meaning

To attack the flank(s) of.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Late Middle English flanc, from Late Old English flanc (“flank”), from Old French flanc, of Germanic origin, probably Frankish *hlanca, from Proto-West Germanic *hlanku (“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.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

latuswingsidestraddleadvancebankbeamborderbreastbroadside

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 3 recorded puzzles:

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