fianco Italian · revision 38530

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1274, Brunetto Latini|origins=frk *hlanka}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈfjan.ko/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fianco''' ''m'' (plural fianchi)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|flanco]], northern [[roa-oit|flancho]] and southern [[roa-oit|fiancu]].^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|flanc|t=flank, side]], which is from [[frk|*hlanka|t=hip, bend]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) Rohlfs thought the word reached Tuscan through northern Italy.^(DELI 1999) The Frankish word is related to [[goh|hlanca|t=side, loin]], German [[m|de|Gelenk|t=joint]] and English [[m|en|link]], all with the basic idea of bending.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Zaccaria 1901) The Old French word, recorded in 1080, also passed into [[oc|flanc]], [[es|flanco]] and [[pt|flanco]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ Older scholars proposed Greek or Latin sources, among them [[la|flaccus|t=flabby]].^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is Brunetto Latini's ''Tesoretto'' (before 1274); DELI dates the word to Bono Giamboni (before 1292), for the side of the body between the lowest rib and the hip.^(TLIO)^(DELI 1999) Dante (before 1321) also has the general sense “side”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Dante's Ugolino episode the dogs' teeth tear the flanks of the father and sons; in the TLIO's Old Italian texts the word also means the whole body, the hip, the internal organs on one side, a river bank and a slope.^(GDLI)^(TLIO) Petrarch's ''antiquo fianco'' is the poet's aged body.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ From the 18th century it was a military term for the side of an army or of a fortification, opposed to the front.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DEI|1630) German borrowed [[m|de|Flanke]] as a military word in 1616.^(DEI|1630) Derivatives include ''fiancata'' (before 1484, Pulci), first a spur-kick to a horse's flank and later a ship's broadside, and ''fiancheggiare'' (before 1555), to march beside and to support;^(DELI 1999) ''fiancheggiatore'' (1849) became a political supporter in Gobetti.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1080 – Old French ''flanc'' is recorded.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1274 – Brunetto Latini's ''Tesoretto'' has ''fianco''.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it for the side of the body.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for “side”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1484 – Pulci has ''fiancata''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1555 – ''Fiancheggiare'' “to march beside” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1616 – German ''Flanke'' is borrowed as a military word.^(DEI|1630)

+ * 1798 – ''Fiancata'' is recorded for a ship's broadside.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1855 – ''Affiancare'' is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|flank]], [[m|en|side]]: the side of the human body between the lowest ribs and the hip; in the plural, the hips: ''Dorme sempre sul fianco sinistro.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(literary)'' The whole body.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The side of an animal's body between the ribs and the hind legs.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # The side of a thing: ''il fianco della nave''; the slope of a mountain.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(military)'' The side of an army or of a fortification.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(heraldry)'' Each side of a shield.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fiancata]]

+ * [[fiancheggiare]]

+ * [[fiancheggiatore]]

+ * [[affiancare]]

+ * [[sfiancare]]

+ * [[fianchetto]]

+ * [[fiancare]]

+ * [[rinfiancare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fr|flanc]]

+ * [[en|flank]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases include ''a fianco'' and ''di fianco a'' (beside), ''fianco a fianco'' (side by side), ''prestare il fianco'' (to lay oneself open, to criticism for example) and ''fianco destr!'' (right face!).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}