| 释义 |
▪ I. Frank, n.1 and a.1|fræŋk|
Forms: 1 Franca, Fronca, 3 Franke, 4–7 Fran(c)k(e, (8 Franc), 7– Frank.
[ad. L. Franc-us, F. Franc; a name of Teut. origin, repr. OHG. Franko = OE. Franca:—prehistoric *Frankon-.
It is usually believed that the Franks were named from their national weapon, OE. franca (:—*frankon-) javelin; cf. Saxon (Sahson-), thought to be from *sahso- (OE. seax) knife. The notion that the ethnic name is derived from the adj. meaning ‘free’ (see frank a.2) was already current in the 10th century; but the real relation between the words seems to be the reverse of this.]
A. n.
1. A person belonging to the Germanic nation, or coalition of nations, that conquered Gaul in the 6th century, and from whom the country received the name of France.
Beowulf 1210 (Gr.) In Francna fæðm. c1205Lay. 3715 Cordoille þe wes Francene quene. a1300Cursor M. 21081 To þe franckis prechid he. 1776Gibbon Decl. & F. I. x. 259 These Germans..maintained the honourable epithet of Franks or Freemen. 1796H. Hunter tr. St. Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) III. 457 A family of slaves under the Romans risen to Nobility under the Francs. 1844Ld. Brougham Brit. Const. iii. (1862) 40 The Franks, who founded the French Monarchy.
2. A name given by the nations bordering on the Levant to an individual of Western nationality. Cf. Feringhee.
1687tr. De Thevenot's Trav. ii. i. xi. 51 They presently blazed it abroad that I was a Franck. a1734North Lives II. 456 All European nations that live among them..are called Franks. 1808A. Parsons Trav. iii. 62 Foreign merchants called franks. 1886Pall Mall G. 10 July 4/1 The Greeks..calling their Roman brethren ‘unbaptized dogs’ and Franks.
†3. With ellipsis of ‘language’. A lingua franca or mixed language. Obs.—1
1681Nevile Plato Rediv. 13 In Germany or Holland..most of the Hosts speak a certain Franck, compounded of Dutch, Latin, and Italian.
†B. adj. Belonging to, characteristic of, or customary among the Western nations of Europe. Obs.
1632Lithgow Trav. vi. 245 Beating him most cruelly, and all the rest of the Francke Pilgrimes. 1688Lond. Gaz. No. 2336/5 Two Led Horses, richly furnished, one after the Franke, and the other after the Turkish Fashion.
▪ II. Frank, a.1
see after Frank n.1 |