tank

tank · noun, adjective, verb¹

1. Marathi · derived fromटांकी
2. Gujarati · derived fromટાંકી“cistern”
3. Indo-Aryan · derived from
4. Portuguese · derived fromtanque“tank, liquid container”
5. English todaytank

From Portuguese tanque (“tank, liquid container”), from an Indo-Aryan language, likely Gujarati ટાંકી (ṭā̃kī, “cistern”) or Marathi टांकी (ṭāṅkī). A false friend can be found in North Germanic: dunk (“canister, keg”), 17th c. tönk, which appears derived from both Low German tunneke, Dutch tonneke (diminutive of "barrel"), and dunka (“to dunk, to dip under water, to moisten”). * In the sense of armoured vehicle, prototypes were described as tanks for carrying water to disguise their nature and due to physical resemblance. First attested in 1915, but in common usage only as of 1916. Displaced landship, and mostly displaced battlewagon.

Tank · proper noun²

1. Urdu · borrowed fromٹانک
2. Urdu · borrowed fromٹانک
3. English todayTank

Borrowed from Urdu ٹانک.

First known use, by meaning

• from 1915 An armored fighting vehicle, armed with a gun designed for direct fire, and moving on caterpillar tracks.