Tall and thin with long, thin limbs that seem a bit awkward or gangly.
From Middle English or Scandinavian roots, possibly related to 'lank' (thin/lean). The '-y' suffix transforms the adjective into a more descriptive form popular in English dialects.
Basketball scouts love lanky players because the physics works in their favor—longer limbs create greater reach and speed at the edges of circles, which is why so many NBA stars are 6'10" with seemingly impossible wingspans!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.