plank

English

/plæŋk/

noun
Definitions
  • 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) A stupid person, idiot.
  • That which supports or upholds.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English plank derived from Old French planke derived from planque derived from Latin planca (board, slab), phalanga (pole for carrying things, wooden roller, roller pole for moving heavy objects, roller, pole) derived from Ancient Greek φάλαγξ (battle order, array, log, etc, body of soldiers, trunk, phalanx, battle array, stem).

Origin

Ancient Greek

φάλαγξ

Gloss

battle order, array, log, etc, body of soldiers, trunk, phalanx, battle array, stem

Kanji

茎

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms