Plank

A plank was a processed piece of wood, also known as timber or lumber, that was often used as a material in the construction of structures, especially sailing vessels.

A loose plank was often extended from a ship on the high seas as a form of punishment for prisoners, who were then forced "walk the plank". In a holodeck scenario featuring such an event, Commander William Riker requested that the crew first "extend the plank" before playfully requesting the computer to "remove the plank," after which Captain Jean-Luc Picard corrected his first officer, stating the correct saying was "retract the plank." (Star Trek Generations)

Commander Benjamin Sisko ordered a shipment of lumber from Bajor for use in the construction of his Bajoran lightship. (DS9: "Explorers")

On ancient Earth, it was customary to yell "timber" when felling a tree. The character of Trevis from The Adventures of Flotter, an anthropomorphic tree, would call out "timber" when he dropped to the ground. (VOY: "Once Upon a Time")

During a conversation with Maggie O'Halloran, a hologram who lived in 19th century Fair Haven, Harry Kim – whose fictional role was that of a sailor – described that sometimes "during the night watch, with the timbers creaking and the dark water stretching out as far as the eye can see, you can believe you're the only man in the world." (VOY: "Spirit Folk")

In an alternate timeline, Commander Chakotay recalled the story of another 19th century sailor, this time a real sea captain named Cray, whose ship was hit by a typhoon in the Pacific Ocean, and everyone back in England thought the ship would never return. Eight months later, Cray and his crew sailed into London harbor, with the remains of his tattered ship, consisting of only a few planks and half a sail, according to some accounts. (VOY: "Year of Hell")

External links[]

• Plank at Wikipedia
• Timber at Wikipedia