The Collaborative International Dictionary
Flank \Flank\ (fl[a^][ng]k), n. [F. flanc, prob. fr. L. flaccus flabby, with n inserted. Cf. Flaccid, Flanch, Flange.]
The fleshy or muscular part of the side of an animal, between the ribs and the hip. See Illust. of Beef.
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(Mil.)
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The side of an army, or of any division of an army, as of a brigade, regiment, or battalion; the extreme right or left; as, to attack an enemy in flank is to attack him on the side.
When to right and left the front
Divided, and to either flank retired.
--Milton. (Fort.) That part of a bastion which reaches from the curtain to the face, and defends the curtain, the flank and face of the opposite bastion; any part of a work defending another by a fire along the outside of its parapet. See Illust. of Bastion.
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(Arch.) The side of any building.
--Brands.-
That part of the acting surface of a gear wheel tooth that lies within the pitch line.
Flank attack (Mil.), an attack upon the side of an army or body of troops, distinguished from one upon its front or rear.
Flank company (Mil.), a certain number of troops drawn up on the right or left of a battalion; usually grenadiers, light infantry, or riflemen.
Flank defense (Fort.), protection of a work against undue exposure to an enemy's direct fire, by means of the fire from other works, sweeping the ground in its front.
Flank en potence (Mil.), any part of the right or left wing formed at a projecting angle with the line.
Flank files, the first men on the right, and the last on the left, of a company, battalion, etc.
Flank march, a march made parallel or obliquely to an enemy's position, in order to turn it or to attack him on the flank.
Flank movement, a change of march by an army, or portion of one, in order to turn one or both wings of the enemy, or to take up a new position.
Flanks of a frontier, salient points in a national boundary, strengthened to protect the frontier against hostile incursion.
Flank patrol, detachments acting independently of the column of an army, but patrolling along its flanks, to secure it against surprise and to observe the movements of the enemy.
Usage examples of "flank movement".
He nailed the brakes, he opened the door of a pull and he threw himself of the car in flank movement, landing on the furrows drawn up in the snow.
The famous flank movement merely consisted in this: after the advance of the French had ceased, the Russian army, which had been continually retreating straight back from the invaders, deviated from that direct course and, not finding itself pursued, was naturally drawn toward the district where supplies were abundant.
Harry pictured his swift flank movement, his lightning stroke, and the crumpling up of the enemy.
Whitley's flank movement had proved wholly successful, and Colonel Winchester reinforced him in the little forest peninsula with fifty more picked men, where they lay well hidden, a formidable force for any assailant.
Would he put the 17th forward as a screen when we made our flank movement?
The aide asked Napoleon whether he would command the troops to make a flank movement.
The Cuman cohorts made a strategical flank movement, and when the enemy had pressed forward in disordered pursuit, they wheeled round and attacked them in the rear.
Her start of amazement at the sight of the visitor coming forth from under the stairs proved that she had not been expecting this surprising flank movement, which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm.
He was captain of the home guards in Hawkeye, and he never left home except upon one occasion, when on the strength of a rumor, he executed a flank movement and fortified Stone's Landing, a place which no one unacquainted with the country would be likely to find.
He saw now, too, that they numbered but fifty warriors, and that the other ponies were laden down -with game, showing that the were a party of hunters returning to their village Satisfied that the emigrant train was not their object, but that they were making a flank movement to avoid any soldiers that might be out scouting from the fort, Joe mounted his horse and started to retrace his way.
Had he been in league with them, executing a flank movement to divert our attention?
A skillful manoeuver of the aggressors, the use of a distant road, a chance bend in the German line had enabled the French to collect their cannon in a new position, attacking the occupants of the castle with a flank movement.
Avoiding this route, the Sultan may have turned the Sandur hills by a flank movement to his right, and approached either along the valley of Sandur or along the valley which now carries the main road from Bellary to Vijayanagar, between the Sandur hills and the hills that surround the latter city.
A flank movement produced an unconditional surrender, however, for Laurie knew where to have him.
On the contrary, if you are going to start there I had better execute a flank movement in Queens or Jersey to divert attention.