lank

American  

[langk] / læŋk /

adjective

lanker, lankest

1. (of plants) unduly long and slender.

   lank grass; lank, leafless trees.

2. (of hair) straight and limp; without spring or curl.

3. lean; gaunt; thin.

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lank ¹ British  

/ læŋk /

adjective

1. long and limp

2. thin or gaunt

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lank ² British  

/ læŋk /

adjective

1. informal a lot; a great deal

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Other Word Forms

• lankly adverb
• lankness noun

Etymology

Origin of lank

before 1000; Middle English lanc, Old English hlanc; akin to Old High German hlanca loin, side. Cf. flank

Explanation

Lank can describe grass that is long, hair that is limp, and people who are tall and thin. From the Old English hlanc (which is fun to say out loud), meaning loose and empty, lank is an adjective used to describe plant life which is long and slender, hair that hangs long and limp, and people who are long and slim. So you might hire a lank basketball player with lank hair to cut the grass when it’s lank. Or you might cut it yourself.

Example Sentences

But the choice to give Kate aggressively lank, greasy, unkempt hair makes her a lot less watchable.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2023

He has lank hair to his shoulders and owlish glasses; he looks like he might start shaving in a year or two.

From Washington Post • Oct. 20, 2022

Her hair is lank, unwashed, and she hides herself in oversized clothes.

From Salon • Oct. 17, 2022

For resort, Demna Gvasalia punctuated his otherwise monochromatic collection for Balenciaga with a hint of bright, beautiful red, seen beneath a flowing polka-dot dress worn lank on the body.

From New York Times • Dec. 2, 2021

I can see, even from a distance, that the king's lank hair is damp with sweat, and his long cheeks are streaked with tears.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz