Lanky
/ˈlæŋ.ki/noun
Tall, thin, and awkwardly loose-limbed.
Did you know?Lanky is an old regional English word that likely grew from dialectal lank, meaning thin or drooping, and it has no hidden occult origin—just a very vivid old way of describing a body that seems to sag in space.
Etymological Timeline
Old English / Middle English
English
lanc / lank
“Thin, loose, or not firm; drooping or slack”
16th Century
English
lanky
“Having a thin, loose, or lank appearance”
19th Century
English
lanky
“Tall and thin in a noticeable, awkward way”
Modern English
English
lanky
“Tall, thin, and awkwardly loose-limbed”