flanker

[flang-ker]

noun

a person or thing that flanks.
Military. one of a body of soldiers placed on the flank of an army to guard a line of march.
Fortification. a fortification projecting so as to defend another work or to command the flank of an assailing body.

Football.
1. Also called flank·er·back.an offensive back who lines up outside of an end.
2. split end.

Origin of flanker

First recorded in 1540–50; flank + -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for flanker

Historical Examples of flanker

What a sin it would be to spoil a fellow cut out for a flanker; and on a shoulder intended to carry a grenade, to hang a surplice.
The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, And His Man Mark Antony O'Toole
W. H. Maxwell
Presumably, it was part of a flanker for a formal outdoor stair or steps (fig. 39).
The Cultural History of Marlborough, Virginia
C. Malcolm Watkins

British Dictionary definitions for flanker

flanker

noun

one of a detachment of soldiers detailed to guard the flanks, esp of a formation
a projecting fortification, used esp to protect or threaten a flank
rugby a wing forward

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012