from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Plank \Plank\, n. [OE. planke, OF. planque, planche, F. planche,
fr. L. planca; cf. Gr. ?, ?, anything flat and broad. Cf.
{Planch}.]
1. A broad piece of sawed timber, differing from a board only
in being thicker. See {Board}.
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2. Fig.: That which supports or upholds, as a board does a
swimmer.
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His charity is a better plank than the faith of an
intolerant and bitter-minded bigot. --Southey.
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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]
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{Plank road}, or {Plank way}, a road surface formed of
planks. [U.S.]
{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.
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