▪ I. Frank, n.1 and a.1
(fræŋk)
Forms: 1 Franca, Fronca, 3 Franke, 4–7 Fran(c)k(e, (8 Franc), 7– Frank.
[ad. L. Franc-us, F. Franc; a name of Teut. origin, repr. OHG. Franko = OE. Franca:—prehistoric *Frankon-.
It is usually believed that the Franks were named from their national weapon, OE. franca (:—*frankon-) javelin; cf. Saxon (Sahson-), thought to be from *sahso- (OE. seax) knife. The notion that the ethnic name is derived from the adj. meaning ‘free’ (see frank a.2) was already current in the 10th century; but the real relation between the words seems to be the reverse of this.]
A. n.
1. A person belonging to the Germanic nation, or coalition of nations, that conquered Gaul in the 6th century, and from whom the country received the name of France.
| Beowulf 1210 (Gr.) In Francna fæðm. c 1205 Lay. 3715 Cordoille þe wes Francene quene. a 1300 Cursor M. 21081 To þe franckis prechid he. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. I. x. 259 These Germans..maintained the honourable epithet of Franks or Freemen. 1796 H. Hunter tr. St. Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) III. 457 A family of slaves under the Romans risen to Nobility under the Francs. 1844 Ld. Brougham Brit. Const. iii. (1862) 40 The Franks, who founded the French Monarchy. |
2. A name given by the nations bordering on the Levant to an individual of Western nationality. Cf. Feringhee.
| 1687 tr. De Thevenot's Trav. ii. i. xi. 51 They presently blazed it abroad that I was a Franck. a 1734 North Lives II. 456 All European nations that live among them..are called Franks. 1808 A. Parsons Trav. iii. 62 Foreign merchants called franks. 1886 Pall Mall G. 10 July 4/1 The Greeks..calling their Roman brethren ‘unbaptized dogs’ and Franks. |
† 3. With ellipsis of ‘language’. A lingua franca or mixed language. Obs.—1
| 1681 Nevile Plato Rediv. 13 In Germany or Holland..most of the Hosts speak a certain Franck, compounded of Dutch, Latin, and Italian. |
† B. adj. Belonging to, characteristic of, or customary among the Western nations of Europe. Obs.
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. vi. 245 Beating him most cruelly, and all the rest of the Francke Pilgrimes. 1688 Lond. Gaz. No. 2336/5 Two Led Horses, richly furnished, one after the Franke, and the other after the Turkish Fashion. |
▪ II. Frank, a.1
see after Frank n.1