plank

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman planke (compare Old French planche), from Late Latin planca.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /plæŋk/
• (US) IPA: /pleɪŋk/, /plæŋk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æŋk
• Homophone: Planck

Noun

plank (plural planks)

1. A long, broad and thick piece of timber, as opposed to a board which is less thick.
2. 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.
3. Physical exercise in which one holds a pushup position for a measured length of time.
4. (UK, slang) A stupid person.

Derived terms

• plank spanker

Translations

long, broad and thick piece of timber

Dutch: plank (nl) m. and f. Esperanto: tabulo (eo) Finnish: lankku (fi) French: planche (fr) f. German: Planke (de) f. Greek: σανίδα (el) (sanída) f. Irish: clár (ga) m.

Italian: tavola (it), asse (it) Japanese: 厚板 (atsuita) Latgalian: goldskaļs Latvian: dēlis (lv) m. Serbian: планка (sr) (planka) f., фосна (sr) (fosna) f., талпа (sr) (talpa) f. Spanish: tablón (es) Swedish: planka (sv)

political issue

Finnish: periaate (fi) Spanish: artículo (es)

Swedish: programpunkt (sv)

Verb

plank (third-person singular simple present planks, present participle planking, simple past and past participle planked)

1. (transitive) To cover something with planking.
2. (transitive) To bake (fish) on a piece of cedar lumber.
3. (intransitive) To pose for a photograph while lying rigid, face down, arms at side, in an unusual place.
   • 2011 May 23, Party finishes up in plonking after attempt at planking in Kingsford, in Herald Sun,

     The woman, known as Claudia, fell from a 2m wall after earlier demonstrating the wrong way to plank on a small stool while holding a bottle of wine. A friend said some guests had not heard of planking and Claudia was demonstrating how ridiculous it was.

   • 2011 May 24, Tourists snapped planking at iconic landmarks around the world, in The Australian,

     Perth man Simon Carville became an internet sensation after he was photographed planking naked in the arms of famous Perth statue the Eliza.

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Dutch

Etymology

From Picard Old French planke (compare regular Old French planche), from Late Latin planca.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɑŋk

Noun

plank f. (plural planken, diminutive plankje)

1. a (wooden) plank

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Swedish

Noun

plank n.

1. a high wooden fence which completely prevents any seeing-through

Declension

Declension of plank

	singular		plural
Neuter	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	plank	planket	plank	planken
genitive	planks	plankets	planks	plankens

Compounds

• bullerplank