brank Meaning, Definition & Usage

Brank noun
Etymology
Prov. of Celtic origin; cf. L. brance, brace, the Gallic name of a particularly white kind of corn.
Definitions
  1. Buckwheat. Local, Eng. Halliwell.
Brank, Branks noun (Also<
  • Brank
  • Branks
)
Etymology
Cf. Gael. brangus, brangas, a sort of pillory, Ir. brancas halter, or D. pranger fetter.
Definitions
  1. A sort of bridle with wooden side pieces. Scot. & Prov. Eng. Jamieson.
  2. A scolding bridle, an instrument formerly used for correcting scolding women. It was an iron frame surrounding the head and having a triangular piece entering the mouth of the scold.
Brank intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To hold up and toss the head; -- applied to horses as spurning the bit. Scot. & Prov. Eng.
  2. To prance; to caper. Scot. Jamieson.

Webster 1913