walk the plank
/ˈwɔk ðə ˈplænk/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.45 in modern English
28
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
On an early naval vessel or pirate ship: to be forced to walk off the end of a gangplank (a plank of wood extending outwards from the side of the vessel) and plunge into the ocean and drown, used as a method of killing.
verb
To be forced to resign from a position in an organization.
Example Sentences
- "Walking the Plank. A mode of deſtroying devoted perſons or officers in a mutiny on ſhip-board, by blindfolding them, and obliging them to walk on a plank laid over the ſhip's ſide; by this means, as the mutineers ſuppoſe, avoiding the penalty of murder."
- "Wo unto the crews of such English vessels as now fell into his [Blackbeard's] hands! he showed them no mercy; they either walked the plank, or the hatches were nailed down upon them, and they went down in the scuttled ship."
- "The Portuguese held his tongue like a brick, and walked the plank, while the jolly tars cheered like mad. But the sly dog dived, came up under the man-of-war, scuttled her, and down she went, with all sail set, 'To the bottom of the sea, sea, sea,' where—"
- "How many it [the treasure] had cost in the amassing, what blood and sorrow, what good ships scuttled on the deep, what brave men walking the plank blindfold, what shot of cannon, what shame and lies and cruelty, perhaps no man alive could tell."
- "[I]t is quite a painful reflection how many whole crews we have made to walk the plank for no more than a stock of biscuit or an anker or two of spirit."
- "Hook smiled on them with his teeth closed, and took a step toward Wendy. His intention was to turn her face so that she should see the boys walking the plank one by one."
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈwɔk ðə ˈplænk/
- British English: /ˈwɔːk ðə ˈplænk/