plank

Meanings

Noun

• A long, broad and thick piece of timber, as opposed to a board which is less thick.
• 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.
• Physical exercise in which one holds a pushup position for a measured length of time.
• A stupid person, idiot.
• That which supports or upholds.

Verb

• To cover something with planking.
• To bake (fish, etc.) on a piece of cedar lumber.
• To lay down, as on a plank or table; to stake or pay cash.
• To harden, as hat bodies, by felting.
• To splice together the ends of slivers of wool, for subsequent drawing.
• To pose for a photograph while lying rigid, face down, arms at side, in an unusual place.

Origin

• From Middle English plank, planke, borrowed from Old French planke, Old Northern French planque (compare French planche, from Old French planche), from Vulgar Latin planca, from palanca, from Latin phalanga. The Latin term derives from the Ancient Greek φάλαγξ, so it is thus a phalange, and phalanx. Compare also the doublet planch, borrowed later from Middle French.