dial. or colloq. [Probably imitative of the sound.]
1. trans. To slap or smack (a person, esp. a child) with the open hand. Also absol.
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), To Spank, to slap with the open Hand.
1786. European Mag., IX. 292. The Science of Nothing even dunces have taught, Without spanking a pupil, or spending a thought.
1862. F. W. Robinson, Owen, a waif, I. 82. ‘You’re sorry for your mother.’… ‘I think so but she spanked hard.’
1867. Lond. Rev., 15 June, 673/1. This baby … as a last resource is spanked into a voiceless rage by the mother.
1872. De Vere, Americanisms, 321. If the sufferer be a child, it is spanked, that is, punished by slapping with the open hand.
fig. 1882. Punch, 11 March, 112. House of Lords spanked by 300 against 167.
b. To crack (a whip). rare–1.
1834. M. Scott, Cruise Midge (1859), 417. The mule drivers … were stringing into the yard and spanking their whips.
c. To bring down, thrust, etc., with a slap.
1880. Tennyson, Northern Cobbler, xv. An’ ’e spanks ’is ’and into mine.
† 2. Cant. (See quot.) Obs.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v., To spank a glaze, is to break a pane of glass in a shop window, and make a sudden snatch at some article of value within your reach. Ibid., To spank a place is to rob it upon the spank; a spank is a robbery effected by the above means.
3. intr. a. To drop or fall with a spank or smack.
1800. Hurdis, Fav. Village, 61. The sullen shower from the drench’d eaves Drips fast, and on the … pavement spanks.
b. Of a boat: To pound, beat or slap the water in sailing.
1891. Cent. Dict. (citing J. A. Henshall).
4. The vbl. stem used adverbially: With a spank or smack. rare–1.
1810. Splendid Follies, III. 8. Spank flew another revoke card from the hand of Samuelina.
Hence Spanked ppl. a.
1864. Daily Tel., 27 Sept., 5/2. That back-yards should re-echo to the howling of spanked children.
