chank

1 of 2

verb

ˈchaŋk,

-ȯ-,

-ä-

-ed/-ing/-s

dialectal

: chew noisily : champ

chank

2 of 2

noun

ˈchaŋk

variants or less commonly chank shell

plural -s

: any of a family (Xancidae) of tropical heavy-shelled pear-shaped gastropod mollusks

especially : a species of the Indian Ocean (Turbinella pyrum synonym Xancus pyrum) commonly appearing in Hindu religious pictures and writings

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably alteration of champ entry 1

Noun

Sanskrit śaṅkha

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!