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Entry 7 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Plank

/plăngk/ · IPA /ˈplæŋk/
01 n. A broad piece of sawed timber, differing from a board only in being thicker. See Board.
  1. 1.
    A broad piece of sawed timber, differing from a board only in being thicker. See Board. See: Board
  2. 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. 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]
Phrases & compounds
Plank road — a road surface formed of planks.
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.
02 v. t. To cover or lay with planks; as, to plank a floor or a ship.
imp. & p. p. Planked; p. pr. & vb. n. Planking
  1. 1.
    To cover or lay with planks; as, to plank a floor or a ship.
  2. 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. 3.
    To harden, as hat bodies, by felting.
  4. 4.
    To splice together the ends of slivers of wool, for subsequent drawing.(Wooden Manuf.)
Phrases & compounds
Planked shad — shad split open, fastened to a plank, and roasted before a wood fire.