I. ˈswaŋk adjective
Etymology: Middle Low German or Middle Dutch swanc supple, pliant; akin to Middle High German swank supple, movable, swaying, Old English swancor slender, supple, Old High German swenken to fling, hurl, swingan to swing — more at swing
Scotland : full of life or energy : active
II. “, -waiŋk verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: perhaps from Middle High German swanken to sway, swag; akin to Middle Dutch swancen to sway, swanc supple, pliant
intransitive verb
: to show off : behave ostentatiously : swagger , strut
he swanked around … in white suits — Saul Bellow
— often used with it
he likes to slum and likes to swank it too — Newsweek
transitive verb
1. : to doll up
the roof as a whole was swanked and gabled to madness — F.L.Wright
2. : snub
afraid to swank an old acquaintance — Al Hine
III. noun
( -s )
1. : arrogance or ostentation of dress or manner : pretentiousness , swagger
give his wife some diamond bracelets for swank — J.B.S.Haldane
a group of Briticisms which have connotations of swank for Americans — Thomas Pyles
2. : elegance , style
a prep school of considerable swank — R.L.Taylor
IV. adjective
or swanky -kē, -ki
( -er/-est )
1. : characterized by showy display : ostentatious , plushy
a new sport-model car, a big swank sky-blue job, with wire wheels — F.B.Gipson
2. : fashionably elegant : luxurious , smart
homes in the swank , well-kept Prado residential district — June W. Brown
linen, nonchalant and swank and cut with demure … simplicity — Lois Long