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. OMG. 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. sb.
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.
c. 1205. Lay., 3715. Cordoille þe wes Francene quene.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21081. To þe franckis prechid he.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. x. 259. They [these Germans] deserved, they assumed, they maintained the honourable epithet of Franks, or Freemen.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St. Pierre’s Studies of Nature (1799), III. 457. A family of national Princes of the times of the Gauls, may have been reduced to slavery under the Romans; and a family of slaves under the Romans risen to Nobility under the Francs; for conquering Nations, in the view of keeping down the People they have subdued, frequently adopt the policy of abasing that which is exalted, and of exalting that which is low.
1844. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const. iii. (1862), 40. The Saxon nations were more attached to liberty, and gave their princes less power than the Franks, who founded the French Monarchy, and the Normans, who afterwards obtained possession of a portion of France.
2. A name given by the nations bordering on the Levant to an individual of Western nationality. Cf. FERINGHEE.
1687. trans. De Thevenot’s Trav., II. I. xi. 51. They presently blared it abroad that I was a Franck.
a. 1734. North, Lives, II. 456. All European nations, that live among them, and have articles for intercourse of trade, are called Franks; not from a corruption of the French word (as some think), but from the Italian translation of the word they call us by in their own language, which, signifying free or exempt, is, in Italian, Franco, and is so meant.
1808. A. Parsons, Trav., iii. 62. The houses of the consuls, and foreign merchants called franks, are situated in khans, which were formerly public caravanseras, before the European nations traded with the Turks.
1886. Pall 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
1681. Nevile, Plato Rediv., 13. Gentlemen there [Italy] never Learning more Latin, than what is necessary to call for Meat and Drink, in Germany or Holland, where 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.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VI. 245. The clamour of the people incensed so the Turkish Garrison lying at this Gate, that they not onely abused the poore Christians in their ignorant devotion, but they pulled the Guardian also from the Asses backe, beating him most cruelly, and all the rest of the Friers and Francke Pilgrimes that were with him.
1688. Lond. Gaz., No. 2336/5. Two Led Horses, richly furnished, one after the Franke, and the other after the Turkish Fashion.
