frank¹ / frangk/ • adj. open, honest, and direct in speech or writing, esp. when dealing with unpalatable matters: a long and frank discussion to be perfectly frank, I don't know. ∎  open, sincere, or undisguised in manner or appearance: Katherine saw her look at Sam with frank admiration. ∎  Med. unmistakable; obvious: frank ulceration.DERIVATIVES: frank·ness n.frank² • v. [tr.] (often be franked) stamp an official mark on (a letter or parcel), esp. to indicate that postage has been paid or does not need to be paid. ∎  hist. sign (a letter or parcel) to ensure delivery free of charge. ∎ archaic facilitate or pay the passage of (someone): English will frank the traveler through most of North America. • n. an official mark or signature on a letter or parcel, esp. to indicate that postage has been paid or does not need to be paid.DERIVATIVES: frank·er n.frank³ • n. short for frankfurter.

Frank a member of a Germanic people that conquered Gaul in the 6th century and controlled much of western Europe for several centuries afterwards. Also (in the eastern Mediterranean region), a person of western European nationality or descent.

The name is recorded from Old English (in form Franca) and is of Germanic origin, perhaps from the name of a weapon and related to Old English franca ‘javelin’; it is ultimately related to France and French.

frank †free XIII; bounteous, generous; †of superior quality XV; ingenuous, candid XVI. — (O)F. franc :- medL. francus free, indentical with the ethnic name (see FRANK), which acquired the sense ‘free’ because in Frankish Gaul full freedom was possessed only by those belonging to or adopted by the dominant people.
Hence (from the sense †‘free of charge’ of the adj.) vb. superscribe (a letter, etc.) with one's signature to ensure free conveyance, (hence) stamp XVIII; facilitate the passage of XIX.

Frank
A. of the Germanic nation (or nations) that conquered Gaul and from which the country received the name of France (Francia) OE.;

B. (in the Levant) individual of Western nationality XVI. OE. Franca = OHG. Franko; supposed to be named from their national weapon, OE. franca javelin.