Middle English Dictionary Entry
flank(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | flank(e n. Also flaunke. |
| Etymology | CF flanc, Pic. flanke. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The soft portion of the body between the ribs and the pelvis; specif., the groin, the lower part of the belly, or the side or flank of the abdomen; (b) ~ bon, hip bone, ilium; ivel of ~, male de ~, pain in the groin or abdomen; pestilence of the ~, bubonic plague.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9237 : Schulder & side & flaunke also Wiþ his swerd he smot ato.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)40 : Quyces, genoil et penoil: Thees, kne and flank.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1392 : He caughte hire by the flankes And hire embraceth harde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)259b/b : An olyphaunt haþ tyttes vnder þe breste, and þe mare in þe flanke bytween þe þyes [L sub inguine].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)326/33 : Þou myȝt fele þe poynt of þe boon in his flank [L in fonte inguinis].
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)48 : Þei ben so forswonge by the mydell of þe flankes [OF flans] as þough þei had neuyr ete mete, and panteþ in her flankes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2441 : Myn hors..Fomyng ful whit..And his flankis al with blood disteyned.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)14b : He heliþe þe menstrue and swelling of þe flaunke.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)91b/b : He commaundeþ..fleobotomie or ventosis yn ipocundrio .i. flancz.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)163 : Flanke or leske: Ylium, inguen.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2100 : Siche flyttynge es foule..That flowe o ferrome in flawnkkes of stedez.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)160/276 : I wax hevy in lyme and flamke, Downe I ley me vpon this banke.
- a1500(a1449) Lydg.15 Joys (Tit A.26)67 : For þilke Ioye þer hadist..Whan thoue feltest atwixe þi flankes tvene Þy blessed sune.
b
- a1400 Recipe MS Hal.in Rel.Ant.1 (Hal 335)52 : For male de flaunke.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)20b/b : Þo bones beþ brode in þe partie of þe flankes, of þe whiche þai ben cleped ylia or ossa yliorum .i. þe bones of þe flankes..þe flank bone [*Ch.(1): bone ylii].
- ?c1450 Trivet Constance (Harv Eng.938)224 : In his tyme the pestilence of the fflank, that ys to sey the hoche, come oute and slewe many a man and chylde of Rome.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)37/18 : Þis oyle is good for maladye in þe flanke.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)76/5 : For penawnce in a many[s] flanke.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)76/17 : Who-so engrutyd of mete..entrys Bathes, may sone renne yn euyl of fflank and of his entrailles.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. flank.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. flank bone.