Webster
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Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Flank

Flank (flăn̲k), n. [F. flanc, prob. fr. L. flaccus flabby, with n inserted. Cf. Flaccid, Flanch, Flange.] 1. The fleshy or muscular part of the side of an animal, between the ribs and the hip. See Illust. of Beef.

2. (Mil.) (a) The side of an army, or of any division of an army, as of a brigade, regiment, or battalion; the extreme right or left; as, to attack an enemy in flank is to attack him on the side.

When to right and left the front

Divided, and to either flank retired.
Milton.

(b) (Fort.) That part of a bastion which reaches from the curtain to the face, and defends the curtain, the flank and face of the opposite bastion; any part of a work defending another by a fire along the outside of its parapet. See Illust. of Bastion.

3. (Arch.) The side of any building. Brands.

4. That part of the acting surface of a gear wheel tooth that lies within the pitch line.

Flank attack (Mil.), an attack upon the side of an army or body of troops, distinguished from one upon its front or rear. — Flank company (Mil.), a certain number of troops drawn up on the right or left of a battalion; usually grenadiers, light infantry, or riflemen. — Flank defense (Fort.), protection of a work against undue exposure to an enemy's direct fire, by means of the fire from other works, sweeping the ground in its front. — Flank en potence (Mil.), any part of the right or left wing formed at a projecting angle with the line. — Flank files, the first men on the right, and the last on the left, of a company, battalion, etc. — Flank march, a march made parallel or obliquely to an enemy's position, in order to turn it or to attack him on the flank. — Flank movement, a change of march by an army, or portion of one, in order to turn one or both wings of the enemy, or to take up a new position. — Flanks of a frontier, salient points in a national boundary, strengthened to protect the frontier against hostile incursion. — Flank patrol, detachments acting independently of the column of an army, but patrolling along its flanks, to secure it against surprise and to observe the movements of the enemy.

Flank (flăn̲k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanked (flăn̲kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Flanking.] [Cf. F. flanquer. See Flank, n., and cf. Flanker, v. t.] 1. To stand at the flank or side of; to border upon.

Stately colonnades are flanked with trees. Pitt.

2. To overlook or command the flank of; to secure or guard the flank of; to pass around or turn the flank of; to attack, or threaten to attack; the flank of.

Flank, v. i. 1. To border; to touch. Bp. Butler.

2. To be posted on the side.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Noah Porter, editor (Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913). Public domain. Text as transcribed by MICRA, Inc., from Project Gutenberg. Changed for Deep Dive Bible: Greek, which our source spelled in Latin letters, set in Greek letters; entries of one spelling merged into one article; Greek words our source left out (shown as “?”), read from the 1898 printing, from the same plates (the Library of Congress’s copy), where the place could be found with certainty. Of the others, 1,362 (a word or a single letter each) were inferred by AI from the context by the dictionary’s own rules and are marked with a wavy underline (tap or point at one to see the note); the rest, which could not be inferred with confidence, are left as “?”.