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Plank vs Flank - What's the difference?

plank | flank |

In transitive terms the difference between plank and flank

is that plank is to harden, as hat bodies, by felting while flank is to place to the side(s) of something.

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!).

plank

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A long, broad and thick piece of timber, as opposed to a board which is less thick.
  • A political issue that is of concern to a faction or a party of the people and the political position that is taken on that issue.
  • Physical exercise in which one holds a pushup position for a measured length of time.
  • (British, slang) A stupid person, idiot.
  • That which supports or upholds.
  • * Southey
    • His charity is a better plank than the faith of an intolerant and bitter-minded bigot.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * plank spanker

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cover something with planking.
    • to plank a floor or a ship
  • * Dryden
    • Planked with pine.
  • To bake (fish) on a piece of cedar lumber.
  • * 1998 , Richard Gerstell, American Shad in the Susquehanna River Basin (page 147)
    • Along the lower river, planked shad dinners (baked and broiled) were highly popular during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
  • (colloquial) To lay down, as on a plank or table; to stake or pay cash.
    • to plank money in a wager
  • To harden, as hat bodies, by felting.
  • To splice together the ends of slivers of wool, for subsequent drawing.
  • To pose for a photograph while lying rigid, face down, arms at side, in an unusual place.
  • * 2011' May 23, '' Party finishes up in plonking after attempt at '''planking in Kingsford]'', in ''[[w:Herald Sun, Herald Sun] ,
    • The woman, known as Claudia, fell from a 2m wall after earlier demonstrating the wrong way to plank' on a small stool while holding a bottle of wine. A friend said some guests had not heard of ' planking and Claudia was demonstrating how ridiculous it was.
  • * 2011 May 24, Tourists snapped planking at iconic landmarks around the world]'', in [[w:The Australian, The Australian],
    • Perth man Simon Carville became an internet sensation after he was photographed planking naked in the arms of famous Perth statue the Eliza.

    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.)