Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “flank steak” come from?

flank steak (English) comes from English flank, from Middle English flanc, from Old English 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 steak (English): A beef steak cut cut from the abdominal muscles...

Definitions

  1. A beef steak cut cut from the abdominal muscles...

Ancestry of “flank steak”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishflankTo attack the flank of; To defend the flank of;...
2Middle Englishflanc—
3Old Englishflancflank
4Old Frenchflancside; flank
5Frankishhlanca—
6Proto-Germanichlankazflexible; bendsome; slim; slender; sleek
7Proto-Indo-Europeankleng-to turn, bend; to bend, turn, wind, twist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleng- →