lank

[ langk ]
/ læŋk /

adjective, lank·er, lank·est.

(of plants) unduly long and slender: lank grass; lank, leafless trees.
(of hair) straight and limp; without spring or curl.
lean; gaunt; thin.

Origin of lank

before 1000; Middle English lanc, Old English hlanc; akin to Old High German hlanca loin, side. Cf. flank

OTHER WORDS FROM lank

lank·ly, adverb lank·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for lank

British Dictionary definitions for lank (1 of 2)

lank 1
/ (læŋk) /

adjective

long and limp
thin or gaunt

Derived forms of lank

lankly, adverb lankness, noun

Word Origin for lank

Old English hlanc loose

British Dictionary definitions for lank (2 of 2)

lank 2
/ (læŋk) /

adjective, adverb

Southern African informal a lot; a great deal

Word Origin for lank

perhaps from Afrikaans lank long