flank

noun

• 1the side of a person’s or animal’s body between the ribs and the hip:leaning against his horse’s flanks
• a cut of meat from the flank of an animal:a thick flank of beef on a spit two pounds of flank
• the side of something large, such as a mountain, building, or ship:the northern flank of the volcano

• 2the right or left side of a body of people such as an army, a naval force, or a soccer team:the left flank of the Russian Third Army
• the right or left side of a game board such as a chessboard.

verb

• be situated on each side of or on one side of (someone or something):the fireplace is flanked by built-in bookshelves
• (usually as adjective flanking) guard or strengthen (a military force or position) from the side:massive walls, defended by four flanking towers
• (usually as adjective flanking) attack down or from the sides, or rake with gunfire from the sides:a flanking attack from the northeast