brank

[ brangk ]

verb (used without object)

1. to hold up and toss the head, as a horse when spurning the bit or prancing.
2. to bridle; restrain.

Word History and Origins

Origin of brank¹

1500–50; brank ( def 1 ) of uncertain origin; possibly related to German prangen “to adorn oneself, brag”; compare Middle High German brangen, brankieren; possibly 1550-1600; brank ( def 2 ) of uncertain origin; probably a back formation from Scots branks “a bridle for restraining a scold”

Example Sentences

Eve Brank, a psychology professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, researches how the law intervenes and sometimes interferes with family decision-making.

From BBC

“The government was beginning to tighten up the process, and it was becoming a lot more challenging,” said Laura Brank, a lawyer at Dechert helping Western companies to exit.

From Seattle Times

An update from 2017 found “no change in juvenile crime rates, an increase, and a decrease” across various studies, sociologists Katherine Hazen and Eve Brank wrote.

From Slate

I think, “I need to take a brank.”

From Los Angeles Times

He has largely supported the cental brank's tougher stance, though he has indicated he's open to easing regulations for smaller and regional banks.

From Los Angeles Times