lank Hear it!

lank Definition

lank (laŋk)

adjective

    1. slender or lean
    2. gaunt or meager
  2. hanging straight and limp; not curly: said of hair

Etymology: ME < OE hlanc, slim, flexible < IE base *kleng-, to bend, wind > Ger lenken, to bend, ON hlekkr, a ring

lank Related Forms
lank′ly adverb lank′·ness noun
lank Synonyms

lank

modif.

lean, slender, meager; see thin 2.

lank Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • finger: But he never did, because of the startled exclamation of another of those who were with him and a lank finger suddenly pointing.
  • leg: But the grim-faced colonel still sat sideways on the counter, swinging his long, lank legs and biting his dark mustache.
lank Quotes

   A pallid and thin young man, A haggard and lank young man, A greenery-yallery,Grosvenor Gallery, Foot-in-the-grave young man! A Sewell & Cross young man, A Howell & James young man, A push-ing young par-ti-cleö 'What's the next ar-ti-cle?'ö Wa-ter-loo House young man!

—Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

Browse dictionary entries near lank

  1. ‹ laniferous
  2. ‹ Lanier
  3. ‹ laniary
  4. ‹ laniard
  5. ‹ Lanham Act
  6. ‹ langur
  7. ‹ languor
  8. ‹ languishing
  9. ‹ languish
  10. ‹ languidness
  1. lanky ›
  2. lanner ›
  3. lanneret ›
  4. lanolin ›
  5. Lansing ›
  6. lantana ›
  7. lantern ›
  8. lantern fly ›
  9. lantern jaw ›
  10. lantern slide ›