FLANKER

flanker

(noun) a soldier who is a member of a detachment assigned to guard the flanks of a military formation

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

flanker (plural flankers)

(rugby) A player who plays in the back row of the scrum.

(American football) A wide receiver who lines up behind the line of scrimmage.

(military) A fortification or soldier projecting so as to defend another work or to command the flank of an assailing body.

Hyponyms

• blindside flanker

• openside flanker

Verb

flanker (third-person singular simple present flankers, present participle flankering, simple past and past participle flankered)

(obsolete) To defend by lateral fortifications.

(obsolete) To attack sideways.

Anagrams

• Falkner, Frankel

Source: Wiktionary

Flank"er, n.

Definition: One who, or that which, flanks, as a skirmisher or a body of troops sent out upon the flanks of an army toguard a line of march, or a fort projecting so as to command the side of an assailing body. They threw out flankers, and endeavored to dislodge their assailants. W. Irwing.

Flank"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flankered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flankering.] Etym: [See Flank, v. t.]

1. To defend by lateral fortifications. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.

2. To attack sideways. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition