English

Planks (pieces of timber)

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. (Britain, slang) A stupid person, idiot.
5. That which supports or upholds.
   • Southey

     His charity is a better plank than the faith of an intolerant and bitter-minded bigot.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:idiot

Derived terms

• plank spanker

Translations

Verb

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

1. (transitive) To cover something with planking.

   to plank a floor or a ship

   • Dryden

     Planked with pine.

2. (transitive) To bake (fish, etc.) on a piece of cedar lumber.
   • 1998, Richard Gerstell, American Shad in the Susquehanna River Basin (page 147)

     Along the lower river, planked shad dinners (baked and broiled) were highly popular during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

3. (transitive, colloquial) To lay down, as on a plank or table; to stake or pay cash.

   to plank money in a wager

4. (transitive) To harden, as hat bodies, by felting.
5. To splice together the ends of slivers of wool, for subsequent drawing.
6. (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.

Translations

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɑŋk

Etymology

From Old Northern French planke, from Late Latin planca.

Noun

plank f ‎(plural planken, diminutive plankje n)

1. a shelf
2. a (wooden) plank

Swedish

Noun

plank n

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

Declension

Compounds

• bullerplank