English
fank
Fank comes from Scottish Gaelic fang ‘fank, sheepfold’, and goes back to Scots fank.
- Scotsc. 1450–presentfank
- Scottish Gaelicmodernfang‘fank, sheepfold’
- Englishtodayfank
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Scotsc. 1450–presentfank
- Scottish Gaelicmodernfang‘fank, sheepfold’
- Englishtodayfank
The story
From Scottish Gaelic fang, from Scots fank, perhaps ultimately related to archaic fang (‘to seize, catch’).
Every English word from Scots fank
Today it means
noun A pen for enclosing sheep, mainly in the Scottish Highlands.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Scots fank / fank