sheepshank
[ sheep-shangk ]
/ ˈʃipˌʃæŋk /
noun
a kind of knot, hitch, or bend made on a rope to shorten it temporarily.
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Origin of sheepshank
First recorded in 1635–45; short for sheepshank knot; literal sense unclear
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for sheepshank
Sheep-shank the stays and backstays, and set them hand-taut.
The Seaman's Friend|Richard Henry DanaThe purpose of a Sheep-shank is to take up slack or shorten a rope temporarily.
But when you come to that sheep-shank and bowline upon the bight, as you term them, it grows confusing.
Fighting in Cuban Waters|Edward StratemeyerIt is sometimes necessary to shorten a rope temporarily and not desirable to cut it, and the sheep-shank knot solves the problem.
On the Trail|Lina Beard and Adelia Belle Beard
British Dictionary definitions for sheepshank
sheepshank
/ (ˈʃiːpˌʃæŋk) /
noun
a knot consisting of two hitches at the ends of a bight made in a rope to shorten it temporarily
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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