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View synonyms for shank

shank

[ shangk ]

noun

  1. Anatomy. the part of the lower limb in humans between the knee and the ankle; leg.
  2. a corresponding or analogous part in certain animals.
  3. the lower limb in humans, including both the leg and the thigh.
  4. a cut of meat from the top part of the front foreshank or back hind shank leg of an animal.
  5. a narrow part of various devices, as a tool or bolt, connecting the end by which the object is held or moved with the end that acts upon another object.
  6. a straight, usually narrow, shaftlike part of various objects connecting two more important or complex parts, as the stem of a pipe.
  7. a knob, small projection, or end of a device for attaching to another object, as a small knob on the back of a solid button, or the end of a drill for gripping in a shaft.
  8. the long, straight part of an anchor connecting the crown and the ring.
  9. the straight part of a fishhook away from the bent part or prong.
  10. Informal.
    1. the early or main part of a period of time:

      It was just the shank of the evening when the party began.

    2. the latter part of a period of time:

      They didn't get started until the shank of the morning.

  11. the narrow part of the sole of a shoe, lying beneath the instep.
  12. Printing. the body of a type, between the shoulder and the foot.
  13. Golf. a shot veering sharply to the right after being hit with the base of a club shaft.
  14. the part of a phonograph stylus or needle on which the diamond or sapphire tip is mounted.
  15. Jewelry. the part of a ring that surrounds the finger; hoop.


verb (used with object)

  1. Golf. to hit (a golf ball) with the base of the shaft of a club just above the club head, causing the ball to go off sharply to the right.
  2. Slang. to cut or stab (someone) with a shank; shiv.
  3. Slang. to undermine or discredit (someone) in a sneaky manner, as with innuendo, rumor, accusation, or the like.

verb (used without object)

  1. Chiefly Scot. to travel on foot. Compare shanks' mare.

shank

/ ʃæŋk /

noun

  1. anatomy the shin
  2. the corresponding part of the leg in vertebrates other than man
  3. a cut of meat from the top part of an animal's shank
  4. the main part of a tool, between the working part and the handle
  5. the part of a bolt between the thread and the head
  6. the cylindrical part of a bit by which it is held in the drill
  7. the ring or stem on the back of some buttons
  8. the stem or long narrow part of a key, anchor, hook, spoon handle, nail, pin, etc
  9. the band of a ring as distinguished from the setting
    1. the part of a shoe connecting the wide part of the sole with the heel
    2. the metal or leather piece used for this
  10. printing the body of a piece of type, between the shoulder and the foot
  11. engineering a ladle used for molten metal
  12. music another word for crook
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. intr (of fruits, roots, etc) to show disease symptoms, esp discoloration
  2. tr golf to mishit (the ball) with the foot of the shaft rather than the face of the club
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • un·shanked adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of shank1

First recorded before 900; Middle English (noun); Old English sc(e)anca; cognate with Low German schanke “leg, thigh”; akin to German Schenkel “thigh,” Schinken “ham (of the leg)”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of shank1

Old English scanca; related to Old Frisian schanke, Middle Low German schenke, Danish, Swedish skank leg
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Example Sentences

This flexible, lightweight, rugged moccasin features a graphene-enhanced rubber outsole and bombproof shank plate for cleat-like traction.

It’s a lamb shank from Marhaba, a new counter at the Tysons food court.

The grandest meat, on the other hand, is braised lamb shank.

If she got caught with a shank, they would up her custody level.

Seager writes about being threatened by a patient with a shank carved out of an eyeglass stem.

It is one of the only times I can think of when life imitates art to the very bleeding edge of an aluminum shank.

You see, the victim can slip up behind you on any given day and stick a shank in your ribs—or pay someone else to do it.

Everyone complains that Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray shank shots but stubbornly stick to the same strategy.

Its only the shank of the evening, officer, rejoined the old man, as he fumbled with the latch key and finally opened the door.

The invalid sat on the shank of a mushroom anchor, and smoked his pipe while he affected to superintend the work.

The Cad bait, with a little hackle round the top of the shank of the hook, kills well.

Who dat er woicin' dat hebbenly pocklermashun outen dar in de shank o' de night?

A stout shank was gripped by the split wood, and strongly bound in its socket with a thong of hide.

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