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



RESET




Word of the Day

14 June 2025

FELLOW

(noun) a member of a learned society; “he was elected a fellow of the American Physiological Association”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.

coffee icon