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spankEnglish (en) · Etymology 1Source text
Uncertain. Possibly imitative, or perhaps a special use of Etymology 2 (below) in the sense of a horse stamping its foot against the ground. There is no evidence of a relation with Portuguese espancar (“to batter, strike”).
Original Wiktionary entry and references ↗spankEnglish (en) · Etymology 2Source text
Uncertain. Likely of Dutch or Low German origin. Compare North Frisian spanke (“to step with pride”), Saterland Frisian spankje (“to splash”), dialectal Dutch spanken (“to limp, hobble”), Dutch spankeren (“to run away quickly, gallop off”), German Low German spenkern (“to burst, explode, shatter, splash, spray”), Danish spanke (“to strut”), Swedish spånka (“to strut proudly”); originally, equivalent to span + -k. Compare also dialectal English spang (“to leap, bound; shoot out, fling”).
Original Wiktionary entry and references ↗INDEPENDENT SOURCE LIBRARY
More sources for this spelling
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Chambers (1908)
1908- SpankEnglish · e-38700-2585
Spank, spangk, v.i. to move with speed or spirit.—n. Spank′er, one who walks with long strides: a fast-going horse: any person or thing particularly striking, a dashing person.—adj. Spank′ing, spirited, going freely: str
Read the full source record → - SpankEnglish · e-38700-2586
Spank, spangk, v.i. to strike with the flat of the hand, to slap.—n. a loud slap, esp. on the backside.
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