shakedown

American  

[sheyk-doun] / ˈʃeɪkˌdaʊn /

Or shake-down

noun

1. extortion, as by blackmail or threats of violence.

2. a thorough search.

   a shakedown of prison cells to uncover hidden drugs.

3. a bed, as of straw or blankets, spread on the floor.

4. any makeshift bed.

5. the act or process of shaking down.

6. Also called shakedown flight.  Also called shakedown cruise,.  a cruise or flight intended to prepare a new vessel or aircraft for regular service by accustoming the crew to its features and peculiarities, breaking in and adjusting machinery, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of shakedown

First recorded in 1490–1500; noun, adj. use of verb phrase shake down

Example Sentences

We were on the Xcel for its “shakedown cruise,” a final test run new ships often go through before making their public debuts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Apparently, the easiest shakedown targets are single people.

From The Wall Street Journal

The producer’s legal team quickly denied the allegations last October and dismissed the complaint as a “pure shakedown.”

From Los Angeles Times

He called the lawsuit “a shakedown for money.”

From Los Angeles Times

Sharpe, a Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end, first addressed the allegations Tuesday in a video posted on Instagram, in which he called the lawsuit “a shakedown.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blackmail