FLANK

Meaning

The flesh between the last rib and the hip; the side.

• verbTo attack the flank(s) of.
• adjective(of speed) Maximum. Historically faster than full speed (the most a vessel can sustain without excessive engine wear or risk of damage), now frequently used interchangeably. Typically used in an emergency or during an attack.

FLANK as a word-puzzle answer

FLANK is a 5-letter word with 1 vowel (A) and 4 consonants (F, L, N, K). Every letter is distinct, so it rarely punishes a clean opening guess.

It leans on high-frequency letters (A, N), so a strong vowel-and-common-consonant opener tends to light up quickly. Watch for the less-common letter K — saving a guess to test it once the vowels are placed is usually the fastest route.