Main Entry:

lin·gua fran·ca

Pronunciation:

\ˈliŋ-gwə-ˈfraŋ-kə\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural lingua francas or lin·guae fran·cae \-gwē-ˈfraŋ-(ˌ)kē\

Etymology:

Italian, literally, Frankish language

Date:

1619

1often capitalized : a common language consisting of Italian mixed with French, Spanish, Greek, and Arabic that was formerly spoken in Mediterranean ports2: any of various languages used as common or commercial tongues among peoples of diverse speech3: something resembling a common language <movies are the lingua franca of the twentieth century — Gore Vidal>