lank

Etymology

Came into English via Middle English lank, from Old English hlanc, from Proto-West Germanic *hlank, from Proto-Germanic *hlankaz ("lank, thin"), from Proto-Indo-European *kleng- ("to bend, turn, wind, twist"). Compare German lenken ("to turn") and Gelenk ("joint"), Old High German hlanca ("hip, side, flank"), and English link (as in a chain).