Pronunciation: [flˈaŋk] (IPA) 
The word "flank" is spelled with a silent "k" at the end, which may confuse non-native English speakers. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /flæŋk/. The "fl" sound is pronounced like "f+l," the "a" is pronounced like the "a" in "cat," the "ng" is pronounced like the "ng" in "sing," and the "k" is silent. This word can be used as a noun or a verb, and it usually refers to the side or edge of a person or animal.
Flank is a noun and a verb with different meanings, primarily associated with the sides or boundaries of an object, group, or area.
As a noun, flank refers to the side parts of a person's or animal's body between the ribs and the hip, or the fleshy part of the body between the waist and the thigh. In military terms, it refers to the right or left side of a formation, army, or unit. Additionally, in anatomy, flank denotes the upper portion of a quadruped animal's lateral body region.
As a verb, flank refers to the act of being positioned or standing on either side of something or someone, especially for protection or support. In military tactics, it refers to the action of moving around and approaching the side of the enemy's forces or position. Flanking can be employed to gain a strategic advantage by attacking or surprising the opponent from an unexpected direction.
In a broader context, flank can also denote the boundaries of an area, such as the outskirts or sides of a city, or the bordering regions of a country.
Overall, flank encompasses the sides, borders, or edges of various objects, entities, or territories, both in physical and metaphorical senses, and it often implies a position or movement that involves protection, support, or strategic advantage.
The side of the body between the pelvis and the ribs, latus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• The fleshy or muscular part of an animal situated between the ribs and the hip; the side of anything, as of an army; the extreme right or left of a military position; the part of a work placed to defend another.
• To attack the side or flank of an army; to pass round the side or flank; to border; to touch; to be posted on the side.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "flank" originated from the Middle English word "flanke", which can be traced back to the Old French word "flanc". The Old French term, in turn, derived from the Frankish word "hlaƀ", meaning "side" or "flank". The Frankish language was Germanic and was spoken by the Franks, a group of West Germanic tribes that inhabited the regions of modern-day France and Germany during the early medieval period (5th-9th centuries). Through the influence of Old French, the term made its way into Middle English as "flank", retaining its meaning of the side or the fleshy part of the body. Over time, "flank" developed additional meanings, such as the side of a military formation or the side of an animal's body.
