In rugby: the name given to players numbered 6-7. These individuals are well known to be gentlemen off the pitch, but as soon as they step onto the pitch they become animals, tackling anyone who comes near them, and often starting fights.
'look at that tackle' 'he must be the flanker'
'any idea who startedthe fight?' 'probably the flanker'
From the world of commercial perfumery: When a particular fragrance, masculine or feminine, has been a huge success, its makers will often try to capitalize on its success by creating "spinoff" fragrances. These "spinoffs", called flankers, might be similar to the original olfactorily, but with a different spin or variation put on it. "Light" versions, "sport" versions, "veil" versions are common types of flanker.
Traditional SHALIMAR perfume seems heavy and musky to a whole new generation of Millennial women accustomed to fragrances which smell detergent, aquatic and ultra "clean". With this in mind, the company's house, GUERLAIN OF PARIS, has launched a new flanker: a much lighter version of the classic 1925 sexbomb, pruned of its muskier elements, called simply SHALIMAR LIGHT.