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Flank vs Flanker - What's the difference?

flank | flanker |

In military terms the difference between flank and flanker

is that flank is the extreme left or right edge of a military formation, army etc while flanker is a fortification or soldier projecting so as to defend another work or to command the flank of an assailing body.

As nouns the difference between flank and flanker

is that flank is the flesh between the last rib and the hip; the side while flanker is a player who plays in the back row of the scrum.

As verbs the difference between flank and flanker

is that flank is to attack the flank(s) of something while flanker is to defend by lateral fortifications.

As an adjective flank

is maximum (of speed). Historically faster than full speed (the most a vessel can sustain without excessive engine wear or risk of damage), now frequently used interchangeably. Typically used in an emergency or during an attack (All ahead flank!).

flank

English

Adjective

(-)
  • (nautical) Maximum (of speed). Historically faster than full'' speed (the most a vessel can sustain without excessive engine wear or risk of damage), now frequently used interchangeably. Typically used in an emergency or during an attack (''All ahead flank! ).

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (anatomy) The flesh between the last rib and the hip; the side.
  • (cooking) A cut of meat from the flank of an animal.
  • (military) The extreme left or right edge of a military formation, army etc.
  • The side of something, in general senses.
  • * 1918 , (Edgar Rice Burroughs), Chapter VIII
    • Cautiously I approached the flank of the cliffs, where they terminated in an abrupt escarpment as though some all powerful hand had broken off a great section of rock and set it upon the surface of the earth.
  • The outermost strip of a road.
  • (soccer) The wing, one side of the pitch.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 23 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Blackburn 2 - 0 West Brom , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The hosts also had Paul Robinson to thank for a string of saves, three of them coming against Jerome Thomas, who gave Michel Salgado a torrid time down the left flank .}}
  • That part of the acting surface of a gear wheel tooth that lies within the pitch line.

    • Synonyms

    * (all senses) side * (side of formation) wing

    Derived terms

    * (flesh between the last rib and the hip) flank steak

    Coordinate terms

    * (cut of meat from the flank of an animal) fajita

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To attack the flank(s) of something.
  • To defend the flank(s) of something.
  • To place to the side(s) of something.
  • * Pitt
    • Stately colonnades are flanked with trees.
  • To be placed to the side(s) of something (usually in terms of two objects, one on each side.)

    • flanker

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (rugby) A player who plays in the back row of the scrum.
  • (American football) A wide receiver who lines up behind the line of scrimmage.
  • (military) A fortification or soldier projecting so as to defend another work or to command the flank of an assailing body.
  • * (Washington Irving)
    • They threw out flankers , and endeavored to dislodge their assailants.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To defend by lateral fortifications.
  • (obsolete) To attack sideways.
    • (Evelyn)
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