adj
lank
Lank (adj) means Thin and not well-rounded; skinny.
adj
1
Thin and not well-rounded; skinny.
"Blacks in the fields, lank and stooped, their fingers spiderlike among the bolls of cotton."
— Cormac McCarthy (1985)
2
Small or poor in amount; scanty.
3
Flat, straight, thin and limp in a way often thought of as greasy.
"He was an exceedingly thin old man. Down from his head to his shoulders hung long, yellow, lank locks and within this enclosure was an old bony face, the forehead seamed with a thousand wrinkles."
— Hugh Walpole, The Bright Pavilions (1940)
4
Lacking energy; drooping or slack.
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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).
Synonyms
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spindly
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for lank
See all rhymes for lank →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of lank?
"lank" (adj) means thin and not well-rounded; skinny.
What is another word for lank?
Other words for "lank" include spindly.
What is the opposite of lank?
Opposites of "lank" include thick, plump, curled, taut.
What are the different meanings of lank?
"lank" has 3 main meanings: 1. Thin and not well-rounded; skinny; 2. Small or poor in amount; scanty; 3. Flat, straight, thin and limp in a way often thought of as greasy.
