• IPA: /fɹæŋk/, /fɹeɪŋk/

From Middle English frank, from Old French franc, in turn from the name of an early Germanic - confederation, the Franks, from Proto-West Germanic *frank and/or Proto-West Germanic *frankō.

frank (comparative franker, superlative frankest)

1. Honest, especially in a manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.

   May I be frank with you?

2. (medicine) Unmistakable, clinically obvious, self-evident.

   The research probes whether treating pre-diabetes with metformin can prevent progression to frank diabetes.

3. (obsolete) Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free.
   • 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC ↗:

     It is of frank gift.

4. (obsolete) Liberal; generous; profuse.
   • 1692, Roger L'Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC ↗:

     Frank of Civilities that cost them nothing.

5. (obsolete, derogatory) Unrestrained; loose; licentious.
   • 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Muiopotmos, or The Fate of the Butterflie”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC ↗:

     Over the fields, in his franke lustinesse,
     And all the champain o're he soared light.

• French: franc
• German: ehrlich, offen, aufrichtig
• Portuguese: franco
• Russian: открове́нный
• Spanish: franco

frank (plural franks)

1. (uncountable) Free postage, a right exercised by governments (usually with definite article).
   • October 5, 1780, William Cowper, letter to Rev. William Unwin

     I have said so much, that, if I had not a frank, I must burn my letter and begin again.

2. (countable) The notice on an envelope where a stamp would normally be found.
   • 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], “(please specify the page)”, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC ↗, pages 178–179 ↗:

     But, although her friends were kind, Lady Anne was not easy; neither daughter made her appearance, nor did she receive a letter to account for their silence. She remembered, indeed, that Charles Penrhyn could not get franks now, and her daughters knew she would not pay postage; and she had commanded Helen to work night and day, saying, "surely they can give her common materials."

frank (franks, present participle franking; simple past and past participle franked)

1. To place a frank on an envelope.
   • 1811, [Jane Austen], chapter 20, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC ↗:

     It will be so ridiculous to see all his letters directed to him with an M.P.—But do you know, he says, he will never frank for me?

2. To exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.
3. To send by public conveyance free of expense.
   • 1850-1859, Charles Dickens, Household Words

     This required extensive correspondence; so, in the next place, the privilege of franking letters in reference to the emigrants' registration office, was obtained—much to the indignation of red tapists.

• German: freimachen

frank (plural franks)

1. A hot dog or sausage.

   Synonyms: frankfurt, frankfurter

   Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.

   • 1957, Jack Kerouac, chapter 1, in On the Road, Viking Press, →OCLC ↗, part 1:

     We had a farewell meal of franks and beans in a Seventh Avenue Riker’s, and then Dean got on the bus that said Chicago and roared off into the night.

frank (plural franks)

1. (UK) The grey heron.

From Old French franc.

frank (plural franks)

1. A pigsty.

frank (franks, present participle franking; simple past and past participle franked)

1. To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to fatten.
   • c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act I, scene iii]:

     Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid;
     He is franked up to fatting for his pains

From French franc.

frank (plural franks)

1. (historical) Obsolete form of franc, former French coins, moneys of account, and currency.
   • 1771, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1st ed., Vol. II, p. 630:

     Frank, or Franc, an ancient coin, either of gold or ſilver, ſtruck and current in France. The value of the gold frank was ſomewhat more than that of the gold crown; the ſilver frank was a third of the gold one; this coin is long out of uſe, though the term is ſtill retained as the name of a money of account; in which ſenſe it is equivalent to the livre, or twenty ſols.

• enPR: frăngk, IPA: /fɹæŋk/

From Middle English Frank, partially from Old English Franca; and partially from Old French Franc, and/or Latin Francus, from Frankish *Franko; both maybe from Proto-Germanic *frankô.

frank (plural franks)

1. One of the Franks, a Germanic federation that inhabited parts of what are now France, the Low Countries and Germany.

• ferenghi
• franc
• France
• French
• Frenchify
• franchise
• Francia
• francisation, francization
• francise, francize (in Quebec; Oxford dictionary:)

• French: Franc, Franque
• German: Franke, Fränkin
• Portuguese: franco
• Russian: франк
• Spanish: franco

The surname derives from the medieval tribal name.

1. A male given name.
   • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act II, scene i]:

     Mrs. Ford. How now, sweet Frank! why art thou melancholy?

2. A male given name
3. Surname.

• French: Franck, Frank, François
• German: Frank
• Italian: Franco
• Portuguese: Franco, Frank
• Russian: Франк
• Spanish: Franco