shook
1 Americannoun
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a set of staves and headings sufficient for one hogshead, barrel, or the like.
-
a set of the parts of a box, piece of furniture, or the like, ready to be put together.
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a shock of sheaves or the like.
noun
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(in timber working) a set of parts ready for assembly, esp of a barrel
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a group of sheaves piled together on end; shock
verb
adjective
Usage
What else does shook mean? Shook is the past tense form of shake, used as a slang term to describe feelings ranging from discombobulation and fear to rage and elation, kind of like "all shaken up."
Etymology
Origin of shook1
First recorded in 1890–95, for the adjective
Origin of shook2
First recorded in 1760–70; short for shook cask, variant of shaken cask, one dismounted for shipment
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On the trail by the Pacific, as I panted and shook with fear in my new hiking boots at the bottom of the mountain, Susie was already on top, cheering me from above.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
DeepSeek, the Chinese AI developer that shook markets last January after releasing its own advanced model, quickly faded as a threat to the AI boom.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Danielle Belton, who runs a business nearby, said the derailment was so loud it shook her office.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Dan shook his head, as if he himself couldn’t believe it, even though he had presumably been there.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
My hands shook as I unfolded the piece of paper.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
