/
a HackerNoon project
Original · left

Tank (vehicle)

An armored, tracked combat vehicle with a mounted gun.

First in use: c. 1916
Duplicate · right

Tank (game role)

A character role in team games built to absorb damage and protect teammates.

First in use: the 1990s

Tank / Tank (vehicle) / Tank (game role)

Loading data…
Canonical todayMeasuring…
Status—
Duplicate share · 12 mo—
Last crossover—
Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

The armored vehicle became the player who absorbs damage.

Which meaning of Tank is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Tank (vehicle) came first (c. 1916). Tank (game role) arrived in the 1990s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Tank (vehicle)Tank (game role)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · c. 1916

Tank (vehicle)

Loading the Wikipedia definition…

12-mo pageviews—
Year over year—
Peak month—
Duplicate · the 1990s

Tank (game role)

Loading the Wikipedia definition…

12-mo pageviews—
Year over year—
Peak month—

More duplicated terms

Gaming

Lag · Lag (video games)Respawn · Respawn (gaming)Boss · Boss (video games)Speedrun · SpeedrunEpic · Epic GamesValve · Valve (game company)Quake · Quake (video game)Fallout · Fallout (game series)Destiny · Destiny (video game)Overwatch · Overwatch (video game)Apex · Apex LegendsTwitch · Twitch (streaming)Rogue · RoguelikeGrind · Grinding (video games)Nerf · Nerf (game balance)Loot · Loot boxSkin · Skin (video games)Mod · Game mod