Flanker: meaning, definitions and examples

🏉
Add to dictionary

flanker

 

[ ˈflæŋ.kər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

rugby

A player positioned on the outside of the scrum or line-out in rugby, typically used for their speed and agility to outflank the opposition.

Synonyms

flank forward, loose forward, wing forward

Examples of usage

  • He was a skilled flanker, always ready to support his teammates in attack.
  • The team's flanker managed to break through the defensive line and score a try.
Context #2 | Noun

military

A soldier or military unit placed on the sides of a formation, used to protect the main body from flanking attacks.

Synonyms

defender, guard, protector

Examples of usage

  • The flankers moved quickly to secure the perimeter and prevent any surprise attacks.
  • The commander deployed the flankers to cover the left and right sides of the advancing troops.

Translations

Translations of the word "flanker" in other languages:

🇵🇹 flanqueador

🇮🇳 फ्लैंकर

🇩🇪 Flügelstürmer

🇮🇩 pemain sayap

🇺🇦 фланговий гравець

🇵🇱 skrzydłowy

🇯🇵 フランカー

🇫🇷 ailier

🇪🇸 ala

🇹🇷 kanat oyuncusu

🇰🇷 플랭커

🇸🇦 جناح

🇨🇿 křídelník

🇸🇰 krídelník

🇨🇳 侧翼

🇸🇮 krilni igralec

🇮🇸 vængmaður

🇰🇿 қанатшы

🇬🇪 ფლანგერი

🇦🇿 qanad oyunçusu

🇲🇽 ala

Word origin

The term 'flanker' originated in the 19th century in the context of military tactics, referring to soldiers positioned on the sides of a formation to protect against flanking attacks. The term was later adopted in sports such as rugby to describe players in similar positions. The concept of 'flanking' has always been associated with strategic positioning and maneuvering to gain an advantage over the opponent.

See also: outflank.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,098, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.