Where does “lank” come from?

lank (Middle English) comes from Old English hlanc, from Proto-West Germanic hlank, from Proto-Germanic hlankaz, from Proto-Indo-European kleng- — to turn, bend; to bend, turn, wind, twist.

Ancestry of “lank”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishhlancloose, slender, flaccid, lank
2Proto-West Germanichlankflexible, bent
3Proto-Germanichlankazflexible; bendsome; slim; slender; sleek
4Proto-Indo-Europeankleng-to turn, bend; to bend, turn, wind, twist

Words derived from “lank”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleng- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hlankaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic hlank →