What is "frank"

frank \frank\ (fr[a^][ng]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. franked (fr[a^][ng]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. franking.]

1. To send by public conveyance free of expense.
   --Dickens.

2. To extempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.

frank \frank\ (fr[a^][ng]k), a. [Compar. franker (fr[a^][ng]k"[~e]r); superl. frankest.] [F. franc free, frank, L. Francus a Frank, fr. OHG. Franko the name of a Germanic people on the Rhine, who afterward founded the French monarchy; cf. AS. franca javelin, Icel. frakka. Cf. Franc, French, a., Franchise, n.]

1. Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free. [R.] ``It is of frank gift.''
   --Spenser.

2. Free in uttering one's real sentiments; not reserved; using no disguise; candid; ingenuous; as, a frank nature, conversation, manner, etc.

3. Liberal; generous; profuse. [Obs.]

   Frank of civilities that cost them nothing.
   --L'Estrange.

4. Unrestrained; loose; licentious; -- used in a bad sense.
   --Spenser.

   Syn: Ingenuous; candid; artless; plain; open; unreserved; undisguised; sincere. See Candid, Ingenuous.

short for frankfurter, by 1916, American English. Franks and beans attested by 1953.

"to free a letter for carriage or an article for publication, to send by public conveyance free of expense," 1708, from shortened form of French affranchir, from a- "to" + franchir "to free" (see franchise (v.)). A British parliamentary privilege from 1660-1840; in U.S. Congress, technically abolished 1873. Related: Franked; franking. As a noun, "signature of one entitled to send letters for free," from 1713.

one of the Germanic tribal people (Salian Franks) situated on the lower Rhine from 3c. that conquered Romano-Celtic northern Gaul c.500 C.E.; from their territory and partly from their language grew modern France and French. Old English franc, franca "freeman, noble; Frank, Frenchman," from Medieval Latin francus, a Late Latin borrowing of Frankish *Frank, the people's self-designation (cognate with Old High German Franko, the Latin word also is the source of Spanish and Italian names Franco).\n

\nThe origin of the ethnic name is uncertain; it traditionally is said to be from the old Germanic word *frankon "javelin, lance" (compare Old English franca "lance, javelin"), their preferred weapon, but the reverse may be the case. Compare also Saxon, traditionally from root of Old English seax "knife." The adjectival sense of "free, at liberty" (see frank (adj.)) probably developed from the tribal name, not the other way round. It was noted by 1680s that, in the Levant, this was the name given to anyone of Western nationality (compare Feringhee and lingua franca).

c.1300, "free, liberal, generous;" 1540s, "outspoken," from Old French franc "free (not servile); without hindrance, exempt from; sincere, genuine, open, gracious, generous; worthy, noble, illustrious" (12c.), from Medieval Latin francus "free, at liberty, exempt from service," as a noun, "a freeman, a Frank" (see Frank).\n

\nA generalization of the tribal name; the connection is that Franks, as the conquering class, alone had the status of freemen in a world that knew only free, captive, or slave. For sense connection of "being one of the nation" and "free," compare Latin liber "free," from the same root as German Leute "nation, people" (see liberal (adj.)) and Slavic "free" words (Old Church Slavonic svobodi, Polish swobodny, Serbo-Croatian slobodan) which are cognates of the first element in English sibling "brother, sister" (in Old English used more generally: "relative, kinsman").

Etymology 1

1. 1 honest, especially in an manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised. 2 (context medicine English) unmistakable, clinically obvious, self-evident 3 (context obsolete English) Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free. 4 (context obsolete English) Liberal; generous; profuse. 5 (context obsolete derogatory English) Unrestrained; loose; licentious. n. 1 (context uncountable English) Free postage, a right exercised by governments (usually with definite article). 2 (context countable English) The notice on an envelope where a stamp would normally be found. v

2. 1 To place a frank on an envelope. 2 To exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, et

3. 3 To send by public conveyance free of expense. Etymology 2

   n. A hot dog or sausage. Etymology 3

   n. (context UK English) the grey heron. Etymology 4

   n. A pigsty. vb. To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to fatten.

1. adj. characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion; "blunt talking and straight shooting"; "a blunt New England farmer"; "I gave them my candid opinion"; "forthright criticism"; "a forthright approach to the problem"; "tell me what you think--and you may just as well be frank"; "it is possible to be outspoken without being rude"; "plainspoken and to the point"; "a point-blank accusation" [syn: blunt, candid, forthright, free-spoken, outspoken, plainspoken, point-blank, straight-from-the-shoulder]

2. clearly manifest; evident; "frank enjoyment"

1. v. stamp with a postmark to indicate date and time of mailing [syn: postmark]

2. exempt by means of an official pass or letter, as from customs or other checks

Frank may refer to:

Frank is a bi-weekly Canadian scandal or satirical magazine published since 1987 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

A separate publication in Ottawa, Ontario, of the same name was published from 1989 to 2004 and then revived from 2005 to 2008 and revived again in its current incarnation as an online publication in 2013. This publication was a legally separate entity, although it was spawned from the Halifax publication.

Frank was inspired by, and is often compared to, the British Private Eye. The magazine is available on newsstands throughout Nova Scotia.

Frank is a cartoon character created by American cartoonist Jim Woodring. Frank is a bipedal, bucktoothed animal of uncertain species whom Woodring described as a "generic anthropomorph". The stories and supporting characters appear in a world called the Unifactor.

Frank is the eighth studio album by new wave group Squeeze, released in 1989. It peaked at number 58 in the UK Albums Chart. The album received some positive reviews but sold poorly, and Squeeze was quickly dropped by the new management at A&M Records. Forced to take offers from different major labels for the first time in their career, the band soon signed with Reprise Records and began working on their next studio album, Play.

Frank is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse, released on 20 October 2003 by Island Records. Production for the album took place during 2002 to 2003 and was handled by Winehouse, Salaam Remi, Gordon "Commissioner Gordon" Williams, Jimmy Hogarth and Matt Rowe. Its title alludes to the nature and tone of Winehouse's lyrics on the album, as well as one of her influences, Frank Sinatra.

Upon its release, Frank received generally positive reviews from most music critics and earned Winehouse several accolades, including an Ivor Novello Award. The album has sold over one million copies in the United Kingdom and has been certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Frank was the girl group from Channel 4's comedy drama series Totally Frank. Frank consisted of lead singer Lauren Blake (born 1984), guitarist Bryony Afferson (born 1983), keyboard player Helena Dowling (born 1983) and drummer Hayley Angel Wardle (born 1983). In the show Totally Frank, the girls played fictional characters Tasha (Lauren), Charlie (Bryony), Flo (Helena) and Neve (Hayley). The band used their real names outside of the show.

Their debut single " I'm Not Shy" was released on 31 July 2006 and reached #40 in the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album Devil's Got Your Gold was released on 7 August 2006. The album featured tracks from the television show including "Money In My Pocket", "Never Left A Girl", "Silence", "Don't Wait Up", "All I Ever Do", the second series theme tune; "Turn It Up", and the first series theme tune "Complicated". New tracks included "If The Devil's Got Your Gold", "Wake Up" and "Palm Of Your Hand".

Their song, "I'm Not Shy" was featured in a comedy sketch on the show TittyBangBang on BBC Three.

The promo album sampler for Frank featured three tracks, "I'm Not Shy", "Turn It Up" and "Never Left A Girl".

Frank supported fellow girl group Girls Aloud on their 2006 Chemistry Tour of England and Scotland.

After the release of just one single and album, the band announced on 11 September 2006 that their record label had dropped them, and that they had parted ways.

Lauren was a member of the girl group, The Paradiso Girls, but is now acting; Helena is still doing music videos and carries on dancing; whilst Hayley carried on acting; and Bryony undertook some solo gigs before returning to acting.

FRANK is a national drug education service jointly established by the Department of Health and Home Office of the British government in 2003. It is intended to reduce the use of both legal and illegal drugs by educating teenagers and adolescents about the potential effects of drugs and alcohol. It has run many media campaigns on , radio and the internet.

Frank is a German surname. Notable persons with the surname include:

1. redirect Beyond the Black Stump (comic strip)

Frank is a 2014 comedy-drama film directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Michael Fassbender as the title character, along with Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Scoot McNairy. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. It was released theatrically in Ireland on 2 May 2014 and on DVD and On-Demand on 12 September 2014. It was released in cinemas in the United Kingdom on 9 May 2014.

Frank is a masculine given name.

Ultimately from the Germanic tribal name of the Franks, in the early medieval Frankish Empire, the status of being "a Frank" became synonymous with that of a free man; hence also the English adjective frank (Middle English, from Old French franc, 12th century).

Use as a given name seems to arise already in the Carolingian period; the Old High German form Francho, Franko is on record from the 8th century. While Frank is a given name in its own right, in fact reflecting the Old Frankish form *Frank, the given name in the United States arose again in the 20th century as a short form of Francis (which is itself a shortening of Franciscus, i.e. "the Frenchman", in reference to Saint Francis of Assisi), as popularized by Frank Sinatra (born Francis Albert Sinatra, 1915–1998).