late Old English flanc "flank, fleshy part of the side," from Old French flanc "hip, side," from Frankish or another Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *hlanca- (cognates: Old High German (h)lanca, Middle High German lanke "hip joint," German lenken "to bend, turn aside;" Old English hlanc "loose and empty, slender, flaccid;" Old Norse hlykkr "a bend, noose, loop"), from PIE root *kleng- "to bend, turn" (see link (n.)). Showing characteristic change of Germanic hl- to Romanic fl-. The military sense is first attested 1540s. Meaning "side" of anything is by 1620s. As an adjective, "pertaining to the flank or side," 1660s. Related: Flanked; flanking.
flank (v.)
1590s (military), "to guard the flank," also, "to menace the flank, fire sideways upon," from flank (n.). Meaning "stand or be placed at the side of" is from 1650s. Related: Flanked; flanking.
实用例句
1. Bookcases flank the bed.
床的两侧有书柜。
来自柯林斯例句
2. He put his hand on the dog's flank.
他把手放在狗的胁腹上。
来自柯林斯例句
3. We were taken in flank by a troop of cavalry.
我们翼侧受到一队骑兵的袭击.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
4. By the left flank, march!
向左转走!
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
5. The assault element, led by Captain Ramirez, opened up from their right flank.
