rank

rank · adjective, adverb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*h₃reǵ-“straight, direct”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*rankaz“straight”
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*rank
4. Old English · inherited fromranc“proud, haughty, arrogant, insolent, forward, overbearing, showy, ostentatious, splendid, bold, valiant, noble, brave, strong, full-grown, mature”
5. Middle English · inherited fromrank“strong, proud”
6. English todayrank

From Middle English rank (“strong, proud”), from Old English ranc (“proud, haughty, arrogant, insolent, forward, overbearing, showy, ostentatious, splendid, bold, valiant, noble, brave, strong, full-grown, mature”), from Proto-West Germanic *rank, from Proto-Germanic *rankaz (“straight”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“straight, direct”). Cognate with Dutch rank (“slender, slim”), Low German rank (“slender, projecting, lank”), Danish rank (“straight, erect, slender”), Swedish rank (“slender, shaky, wonky”), Icelandic rakkur (“straight, slender, bold, valiant”). The sense referring to taste or odor is possibly influenced by rancor.

rank · noun, verb²

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*hringaz“something bent or curved”
2. Frankish · derived from*hring“ring”
3. Old French · derived fromranc
4. Middle English · inherited fromrank“line, row”
5. English todayrank

From Middle English rank (“line, row”), from Old French ranc, rang, reng (“line, row, rank”) (Modern French rang), from Frankish *hring (“ring”), from Proto-Germanic *hringaz (“something bent or curved”). Displaced native Old English hād (“rank, status”). Akin to Old High German (h)ring, Old Frisian hring, Old English hring, hrincg (“ring”), Old Norse hringr (“ring, circle, queue, sword; ship”). Doublet of ring and rink.

Words from the same roots