Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Plank?

\Plank\, n. [OE. planke, OF. planque, planche, F. planche, fr. L. planca; cf. Gr. ?, ?, anything flat and broad. Cf. {Planch}.] 1. A broad piece of sawed timber, differing from a board only in being thicker. See {Board}. 2. Fig.: That which supports or upholds, as a board does a swimmer. His charity is a better plank than the faith of an intolerant and bitter-minded bigot. --Southey. 3. One of the separate articles in a declaration of the principles of a party or cause; as, a plank in the national platform. [Cant] {Plank road}, or {Plank way}, a road surface formed of planks. [U.S.] {To walk the plank}, to walk along a plank laid across the bulwark of a ship, until one overbalances it and falls into the sea; -- a method of disposing of captives practiced by pirates.
\Plank\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Planked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Planking}.] 1. To cover or lay with planks; as, to plank a floor or a ship. ``Planked with pine.'' --Dryden. 2. To lay down, as on a plank or table; to stake or pay cash; as, to plank money in a wager. [Colloq. U.S.] 3. To harden, as hat bodies, by felting. 4. (Wooden Manuf.) To splice together the ends of slivers of wool, for subsequent drawing. {Planked shad}, shad split open, fastened to a plank, and roasted before a wood fire.