Where does “flank” come from?

flank (Dutch) comes from French flanc, from Middle French flanc, from Old French flanc, from Frankish hlanca, from Proto-Germanic hlankaz, from Proto-Indo-European kleng- — to turn, bend; to bend, turn, wind, twist.

flank (Dutch): side, flank

Definitions

  1. side, flank

Ancestry of “flank”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchflancside (of person); side, flank (of animal)
2Middle Frenchflanc—
3Old Frenchflancside; flank
4Frankishhlanca—
5Proto-Germanichlankazflexible; bendsome; slim; slender; sleek
6Proto-Indo-Europeankleng-to turn, bend; to bend, turn, wind, twist

Words derived from “flank”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleng- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hlankaz →Every word from Frankish hlanca →