✋ To hit the bottom ✋ A slap on bottom

spank

6 4.8

A quick hit on a child's bottom with an open hand as punishment

noun
/spæŋk/

: nalgada

I climb over her into my seat, and she gives me a light spank on the butt as I go by.
spank on the butt
give a spank
little spank

Examples

After misbehaving, he received a spank as a reminder to behave.
- It was a light spank.

My Boss's Daughter (2003)
She only went down after a few spanks on the bum.

Blog text (22)
The teacher gave the child a light spank for talking back.
Many parents choose to give a spank instead of time-outs.

Synonyms

slap

vsspank

110 1.0

A quick sharp hit with the flat part of the hand

is specifically an open-hand punishment aimed at a child rather than any quick blow

spanking

vsspank

33 4.8

A hit on a child's bottom as punishment

is a single open-hand hit rather than the full punishment act

smack

vsspank

25 3.6

A sharp blow with an open hand

is mainly used as child punishment rather than any sharp blow

paddling

vsspank

Offensive

1 5.1

A light spanking with a flat board used as punishment

uses the bare hand for a single open-hand hit instead of a paddle

smacking

vsspank

1 4.6

A quick hard hit with an open hand that makes a sharp sound

is used especially to punish a child rather than for general striking

smackeroo

vsspank

Informal

9.9

A quick light slap given in play

is usually serious child punishment aiming to correct behaviour rather than playful touch

Compounds

gentle spank

Informal

6.8

A light slap, usually on the arm, to get attention

How Hard

beating

NSFW

276 4.2

smack

25 3.6

spank

6 4.8

pat

∞ 1.0

tap

66 1.0

Surface Forms

spank singular

spanks plural

Etymology

Spank probably comes from the old Dutch verb spanken meaning 'to strike' or from the sound 'spank' that copies a slap, which makes it easy to remember. So a spank is the quick slap itself, often given on the bottom as a form of punishment.