plank
UK[plæŋk]US[plæŋk]
n
a long, flat piece of sawn timber, thicker than a board, used in building and flooring.
n
a fundamental point of a political or other program.
v
to set or cover (a floor or area) with planks.
Etymology
the word "plank" entered english in the late 13th century from the old northern french "planke," meaning a slab or board. this old french term itself evolved from the late latin "planca," denoting a board or slab, which is thought to be derived from the latin verb "plancus," meaning flat-footed or flat. the core semantic thread from its latin ancestor to the modern english term is the concept of flatness, which logically extends to the defining characteristic of a long, flat piece of timber. its later figurative use to denote a key point in a political platform draws an analogy to a foundational structural element.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form derived from a single root.
Examples
the old bridge was constructed from sturdy oak planks.
a central plank of their election campaign was tax reform.
they decided to plank the entire deck with treated wood.