Search the Dictionary

Fig.: That which supports or upholds, as a board does a swimmer. His charity is a better plank than the faith of an intolerant and bitter-minded bigot. Southey.

The course of plank laid horizontally over the timberheads of a vessel's frame.

The act of laying planks; also, planks, collectively; a series of planks in place, as the wooden covering of the frame of a vessel.

plants, taken collectively, which live at or near the surface of salt or fresh waters. --Plank*ton"ic (#), a.

A platform, or flooring of plank, at the entrance of a dock, against which the dock gates are shut.

The widest part of a vessel below the plank-sheer. (c) pl.

Hard, indurated clay; bind. Bends of a ship, the thickest and strongest planks in her sides, more generally called wales. They have the beams, knees, and foothooks bolted to them. Also, the frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides; as, the midship bend.

e deep oceans; hence (Bot. & Zoöl.), the fauna and flora of the sea bottom; -- opposed to plankton.

The planking outside of a vessel, above the sheer strake. Smyth.

A piece of thick plank, armed with iron plates, and fixed on the bow or fore channels of a vessel, for the bill or fluke of the anchor to rest on. Totten.

Sheathing a vessel with planking over felt.

drill, or other instrument; to make a round hole in or through; to pierce; as, to bore a plank. I'll believe as soon this whole earth may be bored. Shak.

a chair on which a person sits, the circular base or lower head of a cask or tub, or the plank floor of a ship's hold; the under surface. Barrels with the bottom knocked out. Macaulay. No two chairs were alike; such high backs and low backs and leather bottoms and worsted bottoms. W. Irving.

Planking to support a roof or wall.

A board or plank used as a bridge.

of winds or waves; a stroke; an adverse action; an affliction; a trial; adversity. Those planks of tough and hardy oak that used for yeas to brave the buffets of the Bay of Biscay. Burke. Fortune's buffets and rewards. Shak.

The joint where two planks in a strake meet.

To drive tarred oakum into the seams between the planks of (a ship, boat, etc.), to prevent leaking. The calking is completed by smearing the seams with melted pitch.

Having the planks meet flush at the seams, instead of lapping as in a clinker-built vessel.

The inner planking of a vessel. Camp ceiling. See under Camp. -- Ceiling boards, Thin narrow boards used to ceil with.